Uber India Launches Selfie-Based Real-time ID Check; Issues ‘No-Sex’, ‘No Puke’ Rules For Riders, Drivers!

In order to induce more security and safety for both the rider and driver, Uber India has launched several new initiatives, and issued strict guidelines which include ‘no sex’ and ‘no puke’ rules, and they feature pretty high on the list.

While ‘Realtime ID’ check mechanism is selfie-based, their guidelines for riders and drivers have been inspired from their global regulations, which have been tweaked for ‘Indian sensibilities’.

Selfie Based Real-time ID Check For Uber Drivers

Using Microsoft’s Cognitive Services, Uber India has launched Real-Time ID Check for drivers, which uses selfies as a mode of authentication. This new layer of security has been launched in 5 Indian cities: New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

This is how it will work:

1. Before a ride is accepted, Uber will prompt the driver to take a selfie, and share it on their app.
2. Using Microsoft’s Cognitive Services, Uber will compare the selfie with the image of the driver on records.
3. If the images don’t match, the driver’s account will be instantly blocked and the matter would be taken forward.

In an official blog post, Uber India said, “Real-Time ID Check prompts drivers to share a selfie before going online to help ensure the driver using the app matches the account we have on file. 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. “

No Sex, No Puke Rules Issued By Uber India

Meanwhile, Uber India has issued strict guidelines for both riders and drivers, concerning their Uber ride. These are actually global guidelines but tweaked for Indian environment and scenario.

Uber said, “This helps ensure for example that a rider in Chennai has largely the same experience and expected behaviour outcomes when he books an Uber in San Francisco or London,”

High up in this list is ‘No Sex’ rule between Uber driver and passengers or between co-riders. Uber said, “That’s no sexual conduct with drivers or fellow riders, no matter what,”

Besides, the guidelines also mention no flirting, no touching and no personal questions between the co-riders in the case of pooling or between the driver and the passenger in case of normal rides. Drunken puking by riders, harassment of drivers by riders also feature in the list.

The guidelines have been translated into 10 Indian languages, and have been more or less ‘standardized’ as per Indian environment and culture.

Explaining the need for such guidelines for riders, Uber said in a statement, “When drivers use Uber, they do more than simply drive: they’re sharing their own car, their space, their time and a slice of who they are with passengers”.

One single incident of violation of these rules won’t block the rider or the driver, but repeated instances will certainly cause permanent blocking of the account.

Do share your opinions on Uber’s guidelines for riders and drivers by commenting right here!