Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

npr.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

391–400 of 500 posts

Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#391

Post by icantdrive55 »

employee8000 wrote: post #234
yladiz wrote: post #34

I 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…

Uber employee here. We were told the reason to track up to 5 mins after the trip is for fraud, ex if a driver doesn't end the trip when she is supposed to. and to figure out where the pick up spots for each address are. A large building may have multiple points where people get picked up or dropped off and knowing those points would be very useful for the drivers and riders. And just as a side note, take it with a fe…

Since Uber is so efficient, maybe you could pass on some information, I have been wondering about for years.

1. I want the the years, and makes of cars Uber demands for employment.(Not a list that changes with caffeine levels.)

2. I want a detailed report showing how much each independent contractor has made after expenses.

These are not difficult questions. Uber must have more than a few Independant studies?

Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#392

Post by newscracker »

boulos wrote: post #257

A ha! This thread has reminded me to check whether Background App Refresh might block this. Apple's iOS Developer Docs seem to strongly imply that's the case [1]: > Important: A user can explicitly disable background capabilities for any app. If a user disables Background App Refresh in the Settings app—either globally for all apps or for your app in particular—your app is prevented from using any location services i…

Thanks for this workaround, the description and the link. As disturbing as it is that Uber is subjecting paying customers to such despicable treatment, I'm glad to know that there is an easier workaround (for iOS users) than turning on and off the location services permission before and after each ride to control this!

I don't have Background Refresh on at all (for any apps) since I find it draining the battery a lot for very little practical benefit for my usage.

Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#393

Post by mittsh »

honkhonkpants wrote: post #54
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #32

In 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 .

This makes the app flat out not work for me. I just get blank panes top and bottom. https://s11.postimg.org/by249fhsz/IMG_1459.png

Yep, I've got exactly the same yesterday until Uber asked me to grant "Always" location tracking. Not only I dislike the forceful location grant but they had a bug that didn't prompt me for it until I rebooted the app twice :)

Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#394

Post by sriku »

employee8000 wrote: post #234
yladiz wrote: post #34

I 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…

Uber employee here. We were told the reason to track up to 5 mins after the trip is for fraud, ex if a driver doesn't end the trip when she is supposed to. and to figure out where the pick up spots for each address are. A large building may have multiple points where people get picked up or dropped off and knowing those points would be very useful for the drivers and riders. And just as a side note, take it with a fe…

While Uber may be interested in the "fraud" aspects - and I think that's a harsh word for what is "walk 50m from drop location" - it really ought to be up to the user to decide what the drop pin should be. Especially when it comes to uber-pool rides, riders may not want to disclose their residence or other locations to random passengers. The only thing that should matter is whether the rider got off at the dropped pin, and not whether the rider walks to some other place.

Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#395

Post by buro9 »

For Uber and UberEats I now manually manage these in Android (which I do for a few other apps I have lower trust for).

Which means I shut off all permissions between uses, and I block all notifications.

I grant Location, only as needed to get a driver or place an order.

Once I'm in the car, I turn airplane mode on, deny all permissions and notifications, and I reboot the phone.

Isn't it crazy that this is where we are now. Invasive tracking has become so normal that I have to manage the access an app has in such a tightly constrained way.

I'm starting to think a 2nd device that I leave turned off 99% of the time would be an easier way to sandbox apps I don't trust.

Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#396

Post by cabalamat »

employee8000 wrote: post #234
yladiz wrote: post #34

I 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…

Uber employee here. We were told the reason to track up to 5 mins after the trip is for fraud, ex if a driver doesn't end the trip when she is supposed to. and to figure out where the pick up spots for each address are. A large building may have multiple points where people get picked up or dropped off and knowing those points would be very useful for the drivers and riders. And just as a side note, take it with a fe…

> Uber as a company is very ethical

Nice try, Travis Kalanick.

Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#397

Post by skeptic2718 »

buro9 wrote: post #395

For Uber and UberEats I now manually manage these in Android (which I do for a few other apps I have lower trust for). Which means I shut off all permissions between uses, and I block all notifications. I grant Location, only as needed to get a driver or place an order. Once I'm in the car, I turn airplane mode on, deny all permissions and notifications, and I reboot the phone. Isn't it crazy that this is where we ar…

No taxis in your area? Maybe a central phone number you can call to hail one? Why Uber and all this trouble?

Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#398

Post by supergreg »

pawadu wrote: post #349
vmateixeira wrote: post #343

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> but Uber as a company is very ethical If it wasn't for the apparent money laundry[1], drivers exploitation[2], cashing out on desperation[3], and tax evasion[4], maybe I could believe that. [1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-25/uber-lose... (How can the company survive?) [1] https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/search?q=uber (Closing and reopening with different names in the UK. Apparently 4? times s…

You forgot the best ones: using dirty tactics against journalists [1] and Lyft [2], I don't understand how anyone can with a straight face claim that "Uber as a company is very ethical company". I would rank the company management (not drivers) as ethical as the New York mafia. [1] http://www.businessinsider.com/an-uber-exec-brought-up-the-i... [2] http://money.cnn.com/2014/08/11/technology/uber-fake-ride-re...

If only we were able to rate management and they were let go with a 3 or less stars review.

Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#399

Post by SixSigma »

skeptic2718 wrote: post #397
buro9 wrote: post #395

For Uber and UberEats I now manually manage these in Android (which I do for a few other apps I have lower trust for). Which means I shut off all permissions between uses, and I block all notifications. I grant Location, only as needed to get a driver or place an order. Once I'm in the car, I turn airplane mode on, deny all permissions and notifications, and I reboot the phone. Isn't it crazy that this is where we ar…

No taxis in your area? Maybe a central phone number you can call to hail one? Why Uber and all this trouble?

My guess is because Uber is subsidising the ride and providing convenient bill paying options.

Re: Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re Dropped Off

#400

Post by SixSigma »

employee8000 wrote: post #234
yladiz wrote: post #34

I 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…

Uber employee here. We were told the reason to track up to 5 mins after the trip is for fraud, ex if a driver doesn't end the trip when she is supposed to. and to figure out where the pick up spots for each address are. A large building may have multiple points where people get picked up or dropped off and knowing those points would be very useful for the drivers and riders. And just as a side note, take it with a fe…

> but Uber as a company is very ethical

IPO, new management, all that data to sell. or (more likely) Bankruptcy, all that loss to recoup

Ethics of today don't mean a thing.

Post reply on HN