Uber Update Tracks Users Even After Riding

Many riders were surprised to learn that the smartphone app of ride-sharing giant Uber continued to track users even after they have left the vehicle. This feature appears to be part of the recent update the company implemented early in November. While that may already be intrusive for many, making it all the more worse is that the app tracks location even when running in the background.

For those who use Uber on a regular basis, there were only two instances when the smartphone app would track location. The first is when a passenger is riding inside an Uber vehicle and the second when the app itself was open. Once the rider has been dropped-off, everything stops.

In a guide released by Uber, the company revealed that the location will only be collected up to a maximum of 5 minutes after the trip ends. The company added that this update to the smartphone app was to improve drop-off and pickup and with it offer better customer service and enhance the safety of the riders. With this update, the company had hoped to limit the annoyance that typically occurs when both rider and driver are managing the pickup stop.

Likely in the hope of pacifying the complaints, Uber has also included instructions in how to turn off this feature regardless if the customer is using iOs, Android, or even Android Lollipop and early systems. The company even directed users to read their User Privacy Statement especially those who want to know more on how the data gathered from the smartphone app is to be used. For some people however, that apparently is not enough.

The Electronic Privacy Information Center for instance has already filed a complaint against Uber with the Federal Trade Commission. Among others, the group alleges that the company has a tendency to abuse the customer location data it gathers through the smartphone app.