- Uber has introduced a new safety feature in Ghana called Audio Recording. The feature allows both riders and drivers to record audio during their trips. Drivers’ feedback from roundtable sessions influenced the development of this feature.
- Audio Recording has been successfully launched in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria. It is part of Uber’s ongoing efforts to enhance safety and raise standards. Users can opt-in to record audio by pressing the shield icon on the app and selecting “Record Audio.”
- Uber cannot listen to the audio unless a rider or driver submits a safety report. Trained Uber safety agents can decrypt and review the audio recordings for investigation purposes. The feature leverages the smartphones of drivers and riders, requiring no additional hardware.
- Marjorie Saint-Lot, General Manager for Uber in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, believes the feature will enhance user accountability. Audio Recording is expected to improve the overall quality of evidence collected for safety cases.
- The feature empowers both riders and drivers to submit audio recordings with their safety reports. Verbal altercations, sexual misconduct, and other violations can be better investigated with audio evidence. Safety Check-Up is another recently introduced feature that encourages riders to utilize in-app safety tools. Uber aims to provide peace of mind for drivers and riders during their trips.
- The company will continue to develop and deliver new features to enhance safety and user experience.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi