Uber Launches Live Video Streaming Feature for Teen Passengers

On Tuesday, Uber introduced an innovative feature for live video streaming aimed at helping parents monitor their children’s safety during rides. This option will be available nationwide in the upcoming weeks.

The new streaming feature makes use of the driver’s selfie camera to deliver a live video feed. At the beginning of the ride, the parent or guardian associated with the teen’s account will receive a notification stating that the video stream is ready. If they choose to view it, both the driver and the teenager will be notified.

Uber states that only parent or guardian accounts linked to the teen’s profile can access the live video stream. Friends riding with the teen will not be able to opt out of the video feed.

Once the ride concludes, video access will be revoked for everyone, including the driver, the teen, and their parent or guardian. Although Uber assures that the video is “encrypted,” it remains unclear if this entails end-to-end encryption, which would prevent Uber from viewing the footage. An Uber representative did not provide further comments when reached by TechCrunch.

Currently, this feature is available in nine cities, such as Atlanta, Cleveland, and Rhode Island, with plans for a broader rollout across the U.S. in the near future.

Uber introduced teen accounts in the U.S. in 2023, and this feature has since been expanded to over 50 countries.