Should Uber be able to track you even when you’re not using its app? Uber seems to think so, but some customers are worried that the ride-sharing giant is yet again overstepping its bounds.
Last month, Uber launched a major update to its app, streamlining many of its features in the interest of making it easier to use than ever. As part of the refresh, the company is now asking customers for their permission to collect location data even when they are not using the app. This includes tracking riders five minutes after their trip ends, and even when the app is in the background of a customer’s smartphone.
Uber says it needs to be able to track its customers even when they’re not using the app in the interest of being the most precise transportation service around. But some riders are peeved that the ride-sharing company, with the help of Apple, is now limiting customers’ options in how much location data they want to share.
Forcing location services to ALWAYS be on is horrible!
Now the splash screen prevents access to my account! Fix this! @Uber_Support @AskLyft pic.twitter.com/eA4kkJXiMo— Tim Clise (@TimClise) November 30, 2016
@Uber after the recent update you are requesting location even when not using app. We will rather prefer not to use uber. Pls revert to old
— Ankur Saxena (@ca_ankursaxena) November 30, 2016
Apple typically offers three location-based settings: “Never”; “While Using the App”; and “Always.” Up until recently, Uber requested the “While Using the App” permission. But Apple gives developers the ability to effectively disable the “While Using the App” permission, forcing users to choose between “Never” and “Always,” which is exactly what Uber has done in its latest update.