Uber is testing out an audio recording feature that lets you report your driver

Uber may be testing out a feature that lets you voice record your driver and report it to the company if you ever start to feel unsafe. Developer Jane Manchun Wong tweeted Monday that Uber is testing a tool called “Record Audio” for you to use if you’re “uncomfortable with the ride.” Wong, who reverse engineers apps, was one of the first to discover that Instagram was testing out hiding likes months back. Wong tweeted that she didn’t test out Uber’s beta-test feature because she was in an “actual Uber ride” when she discovered it. According to Wong’s screenshot of the Uber app, the feature appears to be a part of the company’s “Safety Toolkit” which includes access to sharing your trip status with family and friends, reporting issues and contacting police. Uber wasn’t immediately available for comment. Earlier in September, Uber rolled out RideCheck, a system designed to flag unusual events like long stops or car crashes to keep passengers and Uber drivers safe – an action taken after several high-profile assault scandals. Over the last two years, the company has bolstered efforts to make riders feel safer after dealing with a high-profile murder case and sexual assault complaints against drivers. Earlier in 2019, a South Carolina college student was killed after getting into a car she mistook for an Uber. In 2018, Denver police said an Uber driver fatally shot a passenger. Also in 2018, female riders filed a proposed class-action suit against Uber, accusing the ride-sharing firm of poor driver vetting that led to thousands of passengers enduring sexual harassment and rape.

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