Uber to Require That Passengers Provide Face-Mask Selfies

The mask verification rule expands upon a similar requirement that Uber imposed on its drivers in May.

By Associated Press | Updated: 2 September 2020 11:22 IST

Uber to Require That Passengers Provide Face-Mask Selfies

The requirement will roll out in the US and Canada later this month

Highlights

Uber believes it's time to help make its drivers feel safer
People have been seeking to minimise the chances of becoming sick
The adverse conditions caused trips on Uber plunge by 56 percent

Mask slackers will now have to provide photographic proof they're wearing a face covering before boarding an Uber.

The San Francisco-based company unveiled a new policy Tuesday stipulating that if a driver reports to Uber that a rider wasn't wearing a mask, the rider will have to provide Uber with a selfie with one strapped on the next time they summon a car on the world's largest ride-hailing service.

The mask verification rule expands upon a similar requirement that Uber imposed on its drivers in May to help reassure passengers worried about being exposed to the novel coronavirus that has upended society. Now, Uber believes it's time to help make its drivers feel safer, too.

Uber May Suspend Your Account if You Test Positive for COVID-19

The requirement will roll out in the US and Canada later this month before coming to other parts of the world.

The additional safety measures are part of Uber's ongoing efforts to rebuild a service that has seen ridership plunge this year. People have been seeking to minimise the chances of becoming sick and also have had fewer reasons to go anywhere, with offices, bars, restaurants and nightclubs closed through much of the US and other parts of the world.

The adverse conditions caused the number of trips on Uber during its most recent quarter to plunge by 56 percent from the previous year.

Is this the end of the Samsung Galaxy Note series as we know it? We discussed this on Orbital, our weekly technology podcast, which you can subscribe to via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or RSS, download the episode, or just hit the play button below.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.