Devil's advocate: I had an Uber driver drop me off in a sketchy alley three blocks from the location I specified, but because he barely spoke a lick of English I had trouble communicating that it wasn't my stop.
You can choose to report that.
Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off
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Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off
#32In iOS, most apps request your location "Always", "While Using the App" or "Never". I had Uber set to the second; that option is now gone. It's always or never. Set it to never; this makes their app less usable, but that just nudges me to use Lyft, Juno, et cetera.
Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off
#33In android you can prevent apps from sending mobile data to the cloud in the background. Go to Settings > Connections tab > Data Usage, and scroll down to the app. There's a 'restrict background data' checkbox.
Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off
#34I saw this earlier and had hopes that the update would just let me choose "While Using" in the app settings, like some other apps allow you even if they request access even while not using the app, but the settings only allow for "Always" or "Never" on iPhone. However, you can use Uber without allowing GPS, so it's not all or nothing.
I'm a little disturbed that they need any information after I use Uber though. They know where I was picked up and where I'm going, why do they need to know where I'm at after I get dropped off? That's a little intrusive to me. The proposed argument in the article, "Uber hopes to eliminate the most frustrating part of the experience: the game of phone tag that both the rider and driver play when trying to coordinate the pickup spot," is fine and I'd accept that even though I'm extremely wary of apps that have access to my GPS data while I'n not using the app because I can't see it in fine detail (as far as I know you only can see that some app is accessing your GPS currently, not which one(s) exactly). However, Uber has no need for the data after I am finished. I'm not a fan of being tracked in general, by governments or otherwise, but for a private company to request data after I finish using their services is intrusive and maybe this is conspiracy but I wouldn't be surprised if this data is sent real time and it's possible to see where a user is at any given time after they leave the car (during that 5 minute window).
I'm also curious how this will bump up against EU privacy laws. I'm in the states and this may only be enabled for certain markets, but I wonder if this would cause issues in EU if it's enabled there.
Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off
#35I ranted about this last weekend. No app, positively no app, gets "always" access to my location info. I don't care what their "privacy policy" says. I'm annoyed Apple even allows this. It shouldn't even be an option. Clearly iOS needs more fine tuned permissions. I can share my location with a friend for an hour. I'd Uber wants 5 minutes worth then they should be granted 5 minutes worth. Not infinite and unlimited.…
One thing iOS shouldn't allow is for apps to pick this all or nothing user setting. Apps should be forced to deal with user changing the location setting from always to only while using. If its an option in the OS , app developers, especially big ones like Uber will build for that experience.
Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off
#36I really wish that both Android and iOS had an option to outright prevent an app from doing anything in the background. No sensors, no location, no push notifications, no network access, no CPU time, URL protocols, no nothing. If I don't click the little app icon, the app shouldn't run, full stop.
Not even for messaging app?
Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off
#37> Uber collects your location data from the time of trip request through five minutes after ends trip ends, including when the app is in the background. We do this to improve pickups, drop-offs, customer service, and to enhance safety. Meh, sounds reasonable as long as they don't collect data outside this window (although they should not make it all-or-nothing, a third option of "While in use" would be better).
This is how the Overton Window shifts.
Trouble is, now I have to walk 5 minutes in the opposite direction before turning around and meeting my dealer / going to the brothel / whatever you don't want posted on paste bin.
Another issue arises when a "bug" records your location for 5 hours instead of 5 minutes.
Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off
#38I really wish that both Android and iOS had an option to outright prevent an app from doing anything in the background. No sensors, no location, no push notifications, no network access, no CPU time, URL protocols, no nothing. If I don't click the little app icon, the app shouldn't run, full stop.
Not even for messaging app?
An option. Not a requirement for all apps.
Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off
#39"Uber collects your location data from the time of trip request through five minutes after the trip ends, including when the app is in the background." From source listed in the article: https://help.uber.com/h/ba9dd342-158d-421f-a9ea-0e6c7aaad726
Counting down to the FBI NSL'ing [1] Uber for persistent, warrantless surveillance...
Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off
#40In android you can prevent apps from sending mobile data to the cloud in the background. Go to Settings > Connections tab > Data Usage, and scroll down to the app. There's a 'restrict background data' checkbox.
So they'll just record the data in the background and send it when the app is in use.