Uber drivers can now track your location – five minutes after you have got out the taxi.
An app update means drivers can now follow phones’ GPS signals even if the app is no longer open.
Once updated, the app will ask you to approve background tracking, meaning you can be followed even if the app is only running in the background on your phone.
The new feature was designed to stop drivers from charging passengers extra by claiming a journey finished minutes after it actually did.
But the company has attracted a backlash on social media.
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 spokesperson said: “Uber is a location based service. Until this change, we only collected a rider's 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.
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