Uber has quietly begun in-app video recording for drivers in India, TechCrunch has learned and confirmed with the company. The tool is meant to break the mold in a market where most drivers don’t use dashcams, according to Uber.
Half of the Uber drivers in Delhi in the Delhi-NCR region who told Techcrunch, they can be confronted by riders and, in some cases, threatened with false complaints about their behavior – accusations that can lead to punishment or even account suspension.
“Even a female passenger traveling late at night insisted that we followed the route we wanted rather than the one shown on the map. If we threatened one of the drivers, who requested anonymity for fear of losing their account.
Drivers say the in-app video recording feature can help protect them in these situations by providing evidence when disputes escalate. Still, some have questioned whether Uber will back down in cases involving riders, noting that passengers pay for competing platforms if they are not satisfied.
The pilot, which began rolling out in Phase in May, is now live in 10 cities across India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengnai, Chennai, Jaipur, and Lucknow, the company confirmed to TechCranch.
Rider receives notifications on the trip when video recording is active.
“All recordings are double-encrypted, stored on the device, and cannot be accessed by anyone – including Uber – unless the user chooses to share them as part of the testimony. It is automatically deleted after a week if not shared.
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Video tool Built on Uber’s in-app audio recording feature, to be launched in India in 2023. Video recording is first tested in the US In 2022 and already available in Canada and Brazil.
As the pilot grows, Uber will have to balance the feature’s potential to defuse disputes with inquiries and oversight in one of its prominent markets. It’s unclear when the video recording tool will be rolled out more widely, though pilot performance in the coming months could shape whether Uber moves beyond India or into other regions.