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Parents can now watch their teen’s Uber ride live, through the driver’s phone

ThinkingNews Desk · how this was written

Uber has introduced an optional safety feature for teen accounts that lets parents or guardians watch a live video stream of their child’s ride. The stream comes from the driver’s front-facing phone camera, allowing parents to see the interior of the vehicle while the trip is in progress. This capability is available on demand.

Written from all 5 reports below, not from any single one.

How it was reported

  1. The Verge·
    Uber is letting parents check in on their teens through drivers’ selfie cameras

    Uber has added a new feature to its teen account program that lets parents view a live video feed from drivers’ selfie cameras during rides. The update builds on existing tools such as PIN verification and GPS tracking, and Uber says it has passed testing in several markets and will launch nationwide in the coming weeks. Drivers who accept underage passengers must opt in to provide the video feed.

  2. TechCrunch·
    Uber launches live video streaming for teen accounts

    Uber is adding a live-video streaming option to its teen accounts, using the driver’s selfie camera to let parents or guardians view a ride in real time; both driver and teen receive a notification when the stream is accessed. The feed is encrypted, available only to linked parent accounts, and is deleted after the trip ends. The feature is currently live in nine U.S. markets and will expand nationwide in the coming weeks.

  3. Engadget·
    Uber will let parents peek through a driver's selfie camera when teens are taking a trip

    Uber is adding a live-video feature to teen accounts that lets a linked parent or guardian view the driver’s selfie camera during a trip, with both parties notified when the feed starts and ends. The stream is not saved; an encrypted recording is kept for 14 days and accessed only for safety investigations. The pilot runs in nine U.S. cities and will roll out nationwide in the coming weeks.

  4. TechMeme·
    Uber launches an optional safety feature allowing parents or guardians to watch a livestream of their teen's ride via the driver's front-facing phone camera (Natalie Lung/Bloomberg)

    Uber introduced an optional safety feature that lets parents or guardians view a live video feed of their teen’s ride using the driver’s front-facing phone camera. The livestream is activated through the Uber app and can be turned on or off by the rider, providing real-time visual verification of the driver and surroundings.

  5. The Next Web·
    Parents can now watch their teen’s Uber ride live, through the driver’s phone

    Uber will stream teen rides live in the United States using the driver’s smartphone camera, sending the feed to linked parent accounts in nine markets such as Atlanta and Cleveland, with a nationwide rollout slated for the coming weeks. Parents receive a notification and can opt to view the stream; the driver and teen are alerted when someone watches, and any additional passengers appear on the feed without an opt-out option. Uber has not confirmed end-to-end encryption for the video. The feature expands the 2023 teen-account program, now active in over 50 countries, and follows recent European fines exceeding €1 billion for driver-data violations.

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