Uber India launches 'Rider mask verification selfie' feature across the country

India's popular private cab company, Uber India, on Monday, October 19, 2020, launched a new feature, rider mask verification selfie, focused towards those who have travelled in Uber without a mask, in the last few days.

A report released by the company states that a total of 1,250 passengers have been identified by the teams and tagged by Uber, over the last few weeks. In order to ensure safety in the future, these passengers who have been tagged will have to take a selfie with a mask while booking their next ride with Uber. This will be confirmed by the company.

The firm further stated that the initiative was launched by Uber in the US, in September, and has been successful. Observing the same, the Indian counterpart of the cab company has now launched this feature in the country to ensure safety and discipline. 

Confirming the same and sharing more information, Uber that over the last few days, several passengers were found travelling without wearing masks in Uber, and this can be detrimental, both for the passenger and the cab driver.

A statement was released by the company where Pavan Vaish, Head of Supply & Driver Operations, Uber India and South Asia, said, "At Uber, we believe accountability is a two-way street. Earlier this year, we designed innovative technology to ensure that drivers were actually wearing masks before accepting trips. Today, we've devised similar technology for riders who've previously been called out for not wearing a mask while on-trip. Our new policy raises the bar on safety and makes our platform safer not just for you, but for the next rider and driver as well."

The company aims to ensure such incidents are not repeated and norms or guidelines issued by the government are followed strictly.

Uber has made it mandatory for drivers to wear masks, thereby ensure a safe journey for the passenger choosing the service. To fulfil the same, the driver also has to send a selfie of himself wearing a mask before the journey to Uber India. Bookings are confirmed for the driver only on this basis, and as per records, Uber team has received more than 17.44 million selfies of drivers from across the country.