Attention passengers and drivers! The blue checkmark arrives at Uber
There was a time when the blue check was only for platforms like Twitter, but not anymore. In an apparent effort to stop fraud targeting its drivers, Uber has announced new passenger verification mechanisms that are currently optional.
Uber is dedicated to building a platform based on trust between passengers and drivers. To support this, they are launching new passenger verification measures designed to make everyone feel safer. According to Uber, passengers will now be verified by their systems, which will cross-reference the information provided by the passenger (such as names and phone numbers) with third-party databases to ensure they are who they say they are. If verification cannot be done this way, Uber will allow users to upload a photo of a government ID and a selfie, which will then be analyzed by a “trusted third party”.
How will Uber protect the new data they are requesting? According to their Q&A section, all personal data is protected when stored and transmitted, including the use of secure encryption. However, given Uber’s history of significant data breaches, this may not be very reassuring.
Not everyone will have to upload a selfie or ID for verification, but for those who do, Uber plans to retain their information for quite some time. In fact, your personal ID image will remain in their systems for a full year, and the selfie you provide will be retained for three years. Why does the company need to keep a KGB-style dossier on you for so long after you have been “verified”? It’s unclear.
Uber has also made it clear that they may share your personal information with authorities if requested. This kind of surveillance is highly normalized today, although it’s interesting to think about what taxi passengers in the 90s would have thought if a company like Yellow Cab had asked them for a government ID, a selfie, phone number, bank information, and geographical travel itineraries if they wanted to ride in their vehicle.
