Uber Introduces Live Video Streaming for Teen Rides Across the U.S.

Uber said Tuesday it is introducing a new live video streaming feature for parents to keep track of their children’s safety during rides. The company said that the feature will roll out across the U.S. nationwide in the coming weeks. The new livestreaming feature uses the driver’s selfie camera for the video feed. Once the ride starts, the parent or guardian account gets a notification if the video stream is available. If they choose to watch the stream, both the driver and the teen are notified. Uber said that only parents’ or guardians’ accounts linked to the teen’s account can look at the livestream. There is no opt-out for others who might be traveling with the teen to not appear on the live feed. Once the ride ends, no one, including the driver, the teen, or the parent or the guardian, has access to the video. While Uber said the video is “encrypted,” it is not clear if it’s end-to-end encrypted, meaning that Uber would not be able to access the recording. A spokesperson for Uber did not say when asked by TechCrunch. The company said that the feature is live in nine markets, including Atlanta, Cleveland, Rhode Island, and others. Over the coming weeks, it will be available across the entire United States.