Uber introduces new safety features, with women’s welfare in focus

Rideshare giant Uber is poised to add new safety features for passengers – particularly women – who use its services at night.

According to a Reuters report, Uber is launching four distinct 'safety preferences'  in its app, which include encrypted audio recordings, PIN verifications, and live location sharing.

The updated safety tools is currently available in the US, Canada and Latin America – with Uber planning to extend these new safety features to other countries "in the coming weeks".

This news comes as Uber has come under scrutiny from global authorities after multiple customers reported alleged assaults at the hands of drivers.

The rideshare pioneer has been criticised for failing to conduct appropriate background checks and “inadequate safety training” for its employees. 

According to Reuters, in 2022 Uber said it received close to 4000 reports of “severe sexual assault” in the US alone, from 2019 to 2020. 

In March 2024, Uber agreed to pay Australia’s taxi and car hire industry $271.8 million – Australia’s fifth largest settlement in history – after it was sued for alleged unlawful operations in the country and devaluing the taxi and car hire industry, as previously reported by Drive.