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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

#461

Post by chris_wot »

rmc wrote: post #362
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…

Remember: If you're not in the USA, then US law doesn't protect your privacy! And US privacy law is nothing like EU privacy law. Has Uber considered reforming as a European company, under EU data protection law? That would a nice way to show that you take privacy very seriously.

If Uber tries this in Australia, someone will file a complaint with our privacy commissioner and then Uber will be very, very sorry.

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

#462

Post by chris_wot »

xapata wrote: post #202
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…

You do know that your phone company already has that info, right?

So what? They don't use that data for any other reason than for billing. If they do otherwise and they are found out it would be a PR and legal disaster of epic proportions!

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

#463

Post by chris_wot »

sdoering wrote: post #378
flexie wrote: post #335

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Violation of privacy laws is one thing and bad enough in itself. But let's not forget that Uber violates various taxi laws as well. In Denmark, just now, the state prosecutor has formally prosecuted Uber for colluding to violate the taxi laws. So far, different Uber drivers have received fines and those fines have now been tried in appellate courts that upheld the fines. Now it's Uber's turn for its part in the viola…

Didn't the Uber execs exactly state this publicly - that they are willing to brake the laws that they see are hindering innovation and a disruption? I remember having read something like this but am unable to find it in my archives.

Try this one: http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/technology/uber-driv...

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

#464

Post by antihero »

kkoomi wrote: post #386
stephenr wrote: post #323

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I call bullshit on not knowing that Facebook is a privacy whoring company before WhatsApp sold to them.

Hey, who cares about ethics when there's billions of dollars on the table /s

I mean who wouldn't have realistically accepted literally billions of dollars to sell an app people willingly install on their phones? Ethics is all relative.

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

#465

Post by geofft »

dx034 wrote: post #301
kbart wrote: post #275

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Uber as a company is very ethical and takes the responsibility that we are entrusted with very seriously." Probably every company has said that, yet we know how that usually turns out sooner rather than later (I'm looking at you, WhatsApp). "So I know it's not easy to believe, and it's easy for me to say since I work here, but nothing nefarious is going on. If there was, we the engineers would be against it complete…

Whatsapp was ethical, the problem is with the company that bought them. And they didn't necessarily know that when they sold (even if, an offer of that size is hard to decline).

> an offer of that size is hard to decline

Ethics isn't about doing the right thing when it's easy.

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

#466

Post by LargeCompanies »

lostlogin wrote: post #371
LargeCompanies wrote: post #308

Earlier quoted context omitted.

- Search Twitter for fraud rides in London .. happens to tons of people a month but they don't care. I got hit up for a 1k ride in London yet im in the US. - Try canceling your account .. you have to contact their support who will cancel it for you. What i signed up once and you let my account get hacked and dont care and I cant cancel my account myself? I have to wait a week???? - SOmeone I know has leased a car thr…

You might want to edit or delete most of that later section.

Why should I?

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

#467

Post by ninv »

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…

"little intrusive" are very kind words. i would call it a brazen theft of privacy.

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

#468

Post by mi100hael »

newscracker wrote: post #347
walterbell wrote: post #249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

> it would be better if Apple allowed users to rollback to the N-1 version of an app. Apple should allow users to revert to any older version. There are so many apps that become worse over time, and it's only after an update that the shortcomings are found, with no way to remedy the situation. But Apple really doesn't care about such things on the user experience front. I have provided Apple feedback on this before.…

It's just another reminder that iOS is a walled garden in which you have no freedom.

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

#469

Post by vmateixeira »

sambe wrote: post #449
vmateixeira wrote: post #421

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you for your comment, always good to read and learn from other points of view. I can agree with the weak links. Unfortunately didn't have much time to find better ones. Also, having The Sun as source in HN doesn't give it much of a credibility, but I'm sure there are more reliable sources out there [1]. I can also agree that this point can be made from a bit of a media hysteria. But a company whose business mod…

I think we have quite a fundamentally different view on morality but thanks for providing a thoughtful response. I disagree with most of it so not sure it's worth going through each part ;) Only point I feel the need to address is the general imbalance in assumptions. In my experience, taxi drivers hide the meter, claim that hours are off-meter, claim there are special fees for certain journeys which don't exist, ref…

You're welcome! :) Thanks for replying back too. Always nice to see different points of view.

Yes, agreed, I could have used better words other than cannot do anything because of regulation, of course they can and I'm sure some do. And I'm sure some Uber drivers out there do the exact same, maybe through different means. As I said before, good and bad professionals, you can find them everywhere. It's not something you can generalize.

What I meant is that what distinguishes them from Uber is the fact they are government regulated. I know it may not stands as much, but if everything works as supposed to, it would work well. I'm also assuming you face a different reality (country) different than mine, so not sure if there's a point in going forward with this. Just to finalize on this, some fun fact: in my country every public passenger transportation needs to have a specific insurance (often expensive) and a professional driving license. This is mandatory for every public transportation (cabs included) but Uber. The list of exceptions goes on, and on...

Regarding tax efficiency we share different views as well. And I'm not saying as part of a conspiracy theory of mine thar all unprofitable startups are laundering money on a large scale. A startup is usually expected to start profiting after 5 years and Uber is just far from that. I also try to put myself on an investor shoes and figure out If I'd invest my money on a company as such. My answer is no.

Regarding this particular question:

> Where did these billions and billions of dirty money come from?

A little bit of conspiracy speculation now: Hidden in tax heavens and needed to be brought to light ;)

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

#470

Post by markman »

AliAdams wrote: post #300
kbart wrote: post #275

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Uber as a company is very ethical and takes the responsibility that we are entrusted with very seriously." Probably every company has said that, yet we know how that usually turns out sooner rather than later (I'm looking at you, WhatsApp). "So I know it's not easy to believe, and it's easy for me to say since I work here, but nothing nefarious is going on. If there was, we the engineers would be against it complete…

I thought the drop-off points for large buildings could be a very reasonable justification for extending the tracking window for a few minutes on either side of the drive. I understand that this could fall into 'data necessary to provide a better service' as opposed to simply providing the service as-is, but it seems like drop-off point locations are quite fundamental.

It has to do with collusion between driver and passenger. It protects everyone involved. It prevents a passenger from getting in the vehicle and saying, "I told the app I was going to the bijou duplex but I really need a driver 3 hours to run a bunch of errands. I think we can work out a deal thats beneficial to us both..." that's just one of millions of possible scenarios. Uber can now tell if driver and passenger just drove by the bijou duplex never ending the fare. All of this other squabbling about privacy blah blah blah is senseless. Just ask yourself one question, whom is it that is actually tracking me? For what reason? OK that's two questions. I think once you answer those questions you'll come to the same conclusion time after time, "I'm just not important." On that note one can also conclude, "There's nothing about me, nothing I do, say nor anyplace I go is needed by Zuckerberg. He's doing just fine without my info. The worst thing that's gonna happen is I'll mysteriously get toothpaste coupons or rental car discounts."
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