Audio recording in the Uber app is available in Colombia: find out what it is for

2023-11-22 16:31:20

The Uber company announced that in Colombia the option to record audio during trips is now available within the platform, a security option that allows you to send a report to the support team if something makes you feel uncomfortable along the way.

According to the company, the audio file remains encrypted and only Uber support teams can listen to the content if the user or lessor chooses to send it as part of a report.

Manuela Bedoya, Safety Communications Manager at Uber for the Andean region, Central America and the Caribbean, explained that the new recording function is a technological innovation designed to give “more confidence to the community that uses the Uber app,” maintaining the respect for the privacy of each user.

How does audio recording work on Uber?

1. Recording consent: Before starting a rental, users and lessors will receive a notification in the application if they are matched with a user who has the audio recording function enabled, informing them that the trip can be recorded. If you prefer not to be recorded, you can cancel your request.

You may be interested in: Even dental prosthetics! The objects that Colombians forget the most in Ubers

2. User and lessor control: The option to start recording the audio is found in the Security Center that remains visible in the application throughout the trip through a blue shield, along with the option to share the trip and make a quick call to 123. It is important to mention that the audio is only recorded once the function is enabled and not by default in each rental.

We recommend: Uber launches new function to improve travel safety

3. Encrypted audio: Once a recording is made, the audio file remains encrypted on the user’s or lessor’s device, which does not allow it to be heard by any of the parties or shared with third parties. The recording can only be heard by the Uber support team if it is sent as part of a report.

4. Actions: When the lease ends, the user or lessor will have the option to report an incident and attach the audio recording file. Once the support team receives it, they will review it and take appropriate action on the accounts in accordance with the app’s usage policies, which could even lead to the deactivation of the reported party’s account.