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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

#241

Post by magicalist »

kirykl wrote: post #230
nojvek wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well it's the same company that creepily gives me a code interview in the app because it knows I go to a software company couple of times a week and pushes a job ad. Uber has a lot of sensitive information regarding users. Who goes where and when. This in the wrong hand can be very disastrous. E.g Trump to Uber: "gimme list of all people who to to mosques frequently. No tax for you." Uber: "Here you go. Just don't te…

Sorry to disrupt your narrative but a theoretical action by Trump is worse than what's already happened under Obama? http://www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/477921/

> During that time period, state and federal law enforcement requested information on 408 riders and 205 drivers. Uber, however, only fully complied with 32 percent of requests, while partially complying with 53 percent of requests.

Not exactly an epidemic.

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

#242

Post by guelo »

kirykl wrote: post #230
nojvek wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well it's the same company that creepily gives me a code interview in the app because it knows I go to a software company couple of times a week and pushes a job ad. Uber has a lot of sensitive information regarding users. Who goes where and when. This in the wrong hand can be very disastrous. E.g Trump to Uber: "gimme list of all people who to to mosques frequently. No tax for you." Uber: "Here you go. Just don't te…

Sorry to disrupt your narrative but a theoretical action by Trump is worse than what's already happened under Obama? http://www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/477921/

If you look at Uber's actual transparency report you'll see the feds only requested 65 records. The governments doing the mass data requests were mostly local, state, airports and courts: https://transparencyreport.uber.com/

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

#243

Post by jungc »

xapata wrote: post #216
jungc wrote: post #211

Uber also charges significantly different prices between users. My friends and I did a test and each time, I keep getting charged at least $6 more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMm4ehc7oCw

That's clever of them. Perhaps your elasticity of demand is lower.

I was a huge fan until now. I'm really disappointed that they pick and choose who they think should pay more for the same ride.

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

#244

Post by bastawhiz »

phs318u wrote: post #219
bastawhiz wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, at the end of the day, there's someone that can SSH into some server if they were really determined. There's logging and auditing that happens, though, so you'd almost certainly get caught. Could you craft some sort of perfect crime to avoid detection? It would be super hard, but there's no universe with perfectly secure software. It's a big system, and there are thousands of moving parts, and the likelihood…

Firstly, I just want to take the opportunity to thank you for sticking around and taking part in the conversation. While my own thoughts lie mostly with the other respondents in this thread, it's critical that we have channels somewhere in-between "press release" and "Wikileaks" for getting some insight into the workings of companies like Uber. Having said all that, it's still creepy. And the examples you gave (Googl…

I don't want to sound like I'm minimizing the issue, when I say this, because I respect the sentiments expressed here greatly. But there's a very strong stigma around collection of location data, more so than other forms of more sensitive information. Almost every credit card company, bank, insurance company, and more share your every purchase. What you buy, what you eat, how you live. As far as the sensitivity of data goes, location data is serious, but far less serious compared to things that people are mostly okay with.

For me, I go to and from home, the gym, and work. Every day. If someone was looking at that data, I'd be creeped out, but they'd learn almost nothing about me. If someone saw my credit card statements, I'd be mortified. And yet, almost everyone forgets to fill out and mail back that little slip you get with a new credit card that says "hey, actually I don't want you to sell all of my data to everyone on the planet."

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

#245

Post by dimino »

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

You've got to understand how directly this clashes with the media coverage re: driver rights.

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

#246

Post by macintux »

hrehhf wrote: post #53

Isn't it reasonable to want a taxi service that doesn't track its customers beyond 1 single ride? For example, a regular taxi paid with cash?

I'm fortunate enough to have a small taxi service that operates near me. I probably spend more but I like their API: call the phone number and get a ride.

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

#247

Post by employee8000 »

dimino wrote: post #245
employee8000 wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 You've got to understand how directly this clashes with the media coverage re: driver rights.

Yes and as an employee looking from the inside out, I see how negative the press is, and before I joined Uber I was biased by the media coverage as well. But everything I've seen on the inside directly goes against the media coverage I've seen. Take it with a grain of salt obviously.

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

#248

Post by colept »

jacalata wrote: post #45
colept wrote: post #22

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.

They already had the data showing where he dropped you off, what do you think they're going to do with the extra data?

See where guests are dropped off, and where they go right afterwards such as if they're cutting trips short or being dropped off too far.

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

#249

Post by walterbell »

gchokov wrote: post #215
walterbell wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or don't accept this app update. If/when Uber stops the current app version (with 3 privacy settings) from working with their server API, switch from Uber to a competitor. Apple can also change their policy for ride-sharing apps, to force "While Using" as an option, or block Uber's update from the App Store. Remember that it was only after apps abused the contact database, that permissions were added by Apple to give…

How can you not accept the update, when they do not even write release notes?

I've learned the hard way to time-delay app updates from over-reaching companies. A week or two is usually sufficient for major issues to surface on HN.

You're right - it would be better if Apple allowed users to rollback to the N-1 version of an app. That would send a real-time signal from users to app vendors, rather than slow complaints via press and social media.

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

#250

Post by boulos »

joesb wrote: post #119
amluto wrote: post #26

I 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.

iOS does that? You can set location permission for App with "Never/While Using/Always". You can disable Background App refresh for individual App. iOS App didn't even have ability to run in background in previous version.

You misunderstand. The App apparently can refuse to opt-in to the While Using option (Uber now only has Never/Always). This is ridiculous, and Apple's fault.
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