Uber can now track your location even when your ride has finished, after the company updated its app.
The update allows Uber to follow users’ phones’ GPS signals when running in the background, while previously it only did so when the app was open.
When the app is updated, Uber asks users to approve background tracking.
The new feature was designed to stop drivers from charging passengers extra by claiming a journey has finished minutes after it actually does.
But the company has attracted a backlash on social media from privacy.
I am quitting @Uber till they go back to tracking my location 'while using the app' like before instead of 'Always'. Hello @lyft !
— Navneeth Mandavilli (@nmandavilli) December 5, 2016
@Uber tracking user from when ride is requested until five minutes after it is over 🤔 "Every step you take, I'll be watching you" 🎧 🎧 pic.twitter.com/RmY7VzlCNI
— Jeremiah Trein (@jtrein) December 5, 2016
Uber said the update is designed to help with the accuracy of estimated time of arrivals, pick-ups, efficiency on its pool service and passenger safety.
An Uber spokesman said: “Uber is a location based service. Until this change, we only collected a riders' location when the app was in the foreground - i.e. when it was actually open on their home screen.
“This created challenges with pick-ups, where having the riders' exact location is very important, and drop offs, where knowing building entrances can create safer drop-off experiences.”
Uber also added that users can opt-out of the new feature and still use its service.
New permissions only allow Uber to collect rider information from the moment you book a trip up to five minutes after the trip has ended.
Uber currently operates across the whole of London, as well as in 16 UK cities and regions.
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