Starting August 25, Uber is rolling out a live video streaming feature for teen accounts. A linked parent or guardian can open the Uber app and watch their teenager's ride in real time through the front-facing camera on the driver's phone.
The feature is launching as families adjust to back-to-school schedules and many teens begin using Uber independently to get to school, sports, and other activities. According to ABC News, the company says the tool builds on existing safety features already available for teen accounts, including live trip tracking, PIN verification, and audio recording.
"Parents consistently tell us they want to feel connected and informed when their teens are on the go," said Ashu Manohar, director of product management at Uber, in an interview with Good Morning America. "It's another way we're helping parents feel confident while giving teens the independence to get where they need to be," he added.
When a trip begins and live video is available, the linked parent or guardian receives a push notification. Tapping it opens the stream inside the Uber app. Through the driver's front-facing camera, the guardian can see both the teen and the driver inside the vehicle. The stream ends automatically when the trip is complete.
Both the teen and the driver are told when a guardian starts watching. Manohar said the notification to the driver does not interrupt GPS or other Uber app functions. Drivers who are eligible for the feature receive onboarding about it, including recommendations for how to position their phones. They can also preview their camera angle between trips using the Safety Toolkit in the app.
Privacy was a concern Uber addressed directly. The live stream is encrypted and can only be viewed in real time by the linked guardian. Uber said it cannot access the live video while a trip is underway. After the ride ends, the recording stays encrypted and cannot be accessed by the driver, the guardian, or the teen.
However, Uber confirmed the encrypted video file is stored on its servers for a limited time. "The encrypted video file is stored on Uber's server, and Uber may only access the decryption key to investigate a safety incident," Manohar told Good Morning America. Uber said recordings are automatically deleted after 14 days unless they are connected to a safety report.
