...An Uber spokesperson has clarified to Engadget that tracking passengers in real time and accessing users' address books are merely "potential new use cases." The company has no solid plans to roll those features out at the moment "We are not currently collecting this data and have no plans to start on July 15,"From The Memo:
Uber’s power to track your movements is better than the police
Uber has the ability to track your movements in real-time, and soon it’ll even be able to find you even when you’re not using the app.And from Refinery 29:
Uber has more power to track your movements than the police do, according to Britain’s top police officer.
During an interview with the Radio Times Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan police commissioner, said Uber could locate people in real-time, something the police cannot do.
“[Uber] will know where your phone is and where the taxi is and then put you together. But when people ring the police, we haven’t got a clue where that phone is,” he said.
Police must make an emergency application in order to access the same real-time location data....MORE
Are Uber's New Privacy Changes Creepy Or Necessary?
Following in the footsteps of Google and Facebook, Uber is updating its privacy policies so they're easier to understand for those of us who didn't go to law school. But, there's one update to the terms that has everyone buzzing: The ride-hailing service is going to start tracking users' exact locations all the time, whether you're using the app or it's just running in the background.The May 28 post on Uber's blog begins "We care deeply about the privacy of our riders and drivers...."
The change is potentially useful: It would eliminate the back-and-forth "Do you see me? I'm on the corner by Jack's Market" situation when you and your Uber driver are trying to make contact. This could also shave a few seconds off of how long it takes for the app to find the nearest Uber when you hail a ride. So, that's all good. But, the driver would also know exactly where you were before being picked up, which could be weird if it's a private residence, and he or she could see whether you're actually outside like you said or still finishing your Negroni at the bar when the car finally arrives.
The new terms of service also explain that Uber could start accessing and storing your address book contacts "to facilitate social interactions," such as sending special offers to your friends and family....MORE
Among dozens of posts on these guys:
UPDATED--Here's the Real Problem With Uber: You Can't Trust Them
