From International Technology:

• Uber stores customer data and location for up to five minutes after the drive has ended

• Uber claims that it introduced this data policy to increase customer satisfaction

• Uber customers around the world received this upgrade notification on their App

CALIFORNIA, U.S. – Uber, with its latest update managed to leave its customers fuming in anger after it informed them about its new policy.

According to the data policy update, Uber stores customer data and location for up to five minutes after the drive has ended.

Uber claims that it introduced this data policy to increase customer satisfaction.

However, its customers around the world, who received this upgrade notification on their Uber Apps and were furious at the violation of privacy.

According to reports, by choosing, ‘Always’ Uber records, drivers are said to be able to monitor your location and get your information, even when the app is closed.

However, reports point out there is a way to avoid being part of this scheme – by clicking ‘Never’ a customer can escape the monitoring – but will have to manually type all their information at all times of use.

Although, choosing ‘allow’ is the most convenient option for most, this also comes with a lot of privacy concerns especially since the world is witnessing an increase in the number of cyber crimes.

Amidst the growing worries, Uber has stressed that customers can trust the firm with their private data but hackers might not treat their data with the same respect.

Moreover, most global laws consider this to be an infringement of an individual’s privacy.

Apar Gupta, a lawyer said, “There is no examination of the privacy risk. There is no way to know whether there this is detrimental to Uber users or to Uber itself.”

Most EU laws authorize to what extent a person’s information “can be collected, used, stored and disclosed.”

In countries where there are no strong privacy laws, such information can be misused.

Uber spokesperson meanwhile has stated, “The Uber experience is based on the simple question: where to? Collecting trip-related information helps us to enhance our services”. Uber simply believes that this new upgrade will decrease the tension and frustration faced by both riders and customers in tracking each other.”

Previously, Uber has had to pay $20,000 in lawsuits in New York when the firm’s ‘God View’ tool came under the scanner.

In real time, this tool allowed employees to track a customer’s essential privacy information.

Some experts have argued that Uber probably implemented this policy to safeguard its premier position in the global transportation markets.

Its recent loss of dominance to a local Chinese taxi franchise ‘Didi Chuxing’ in China could also have led to the introduction of this new policy, some experts claimed.

In India, Uber’s other big market, its rival competitor – Ola is funded by Didi Chuxing.

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