Uber Introduces In-App Video Recording for Drivers in India
Uber has quietly rolled out a new in-app video recording feature for its drivers in India, aimed at addressing misconduct issues in a market where dashcams are not widely used. The tool is designed to deter misconduct and provide evidence in case of disputes, according to the company.
Several Uber drivers in the Delhi–NCR region have reported facing misconduct from riders and even threats of false complaints, which could result in penalties or account suspensions. One driver shared, “Even female passengers traveling late at night insist on specific routes and threaten to file false complaints if we refuse.”
The in-app video recording feature is seen as a way to protect drivers in such situations by providing concrete evidence when disputes arise. However, some drivers have raised concerns about whether Uber will support them in cases involving riders, given that passengers have the option to switch to other platforms if dissatisfied.
The pilot for the video recording feature began rolling out in May and is currently live in 10 cities across India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Lucknow. Riders are notified when video recording is active during their trip.
All recordings are double-encrypted, stored on the device, and can only be accessed by the user for sharing as part of a safety report. Uber ensures that the recordings are automatically deleted after a week if they are not shared.
The video recording feature complements Uber’s existing in-app audio recording tool, which was introduced in India in 2023. Video recording was initially tested in the U.S. in 2022 and is now available in Canada and Brazil.
As the pilot program expands, Uber will need to consider the balance between defusing disputes and addressing privacy concerns in one of its key markets. The timeline for a wider rollout of the video recording tool remains unclear, with the pilot’s performance in the coming months likely influencing Uber’s decision to extend it across India or to other regions.