Uber Malaysia has introduced a new safety feature it calls Real-Time ID Check, which uses Microsoft Cognitive Services to ensure the driver partner using the app matches the account in the ride-sharing services’ records.
According to the company, this “prevents fraud and protects drivers’ accounts from being compromised. It also protects riders by building another layer of accountability into the app to ensure the right person is behind the wheel.”
The feature requires drivers to periodically to take a selfie in the Uber app before they accept rides, which is then instantly compared to the one corresponding with the registered Uber account. Should both photos not match up, the account is temporarily blocked while Uber investigates the situation.
To ensure a pleasant user experience, the app will notify the driver instantly if it can’t detect a face or if the photo quality is poor to ensure a proper photo is submitted. Additionally, drivers are required to park their vehicle before they take the validation selfie.
“This is one of the ways to make our rides more safe and reliable,” said Uber Malaysia communications head Leigh Wong in a report by The Sun. Wong also suggested riders to share the route used with their contacts so their friends or family could know where they are for additional safety.
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This is good. I am happy Uber is doing this. Aiyoo, old teksi system, it was hell for ladies. Old teksi driver always like to talk dirty things to lady.
When collecting payment also, old teksi driver try to peep into skirt of the lady always.
Thank you Uber for giving us safe rides.
My brother drive uber tax c, monthly he can earn RM 6000. Dont shy show your face to people see you and work hard like stell and stone. Young guy not need go univesity collage waste timelife and money. World now changes. Young brother and sister grab this change .
if i did plastic surgery to look like tom cruise already. so how? uber app cannot recognise me.
Then no need to work as uber driver lah, go become a celebrity impersonator or body double.
Stupid questions get stupid answers.
ppl just jump to do grab instead
Why does the pic look like me?
Good news for the riders. How about the safety for drivers? Can uber collect more information about riders too?
This type of tech that uber is trying to use won’t work, but there are other more simpler facial recognition options that will. Hopefully they will figure it out.
what about taking picture in dark situation? hope theu really consider this before effectively put this into action… this will cause even more burden to the driver…
This is a great idea but will fail exactly like the samsung galaxy 8 facial recognition has failed. It can be fooled. Uber should incorporate a software like ZoomLogin to create “liveness” plus biometric authentication. That would work much better, not force the drivers to have to do periodic selfies and it can be downloaded into any riders existing phone.