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Uber Revises Privacy Policy, Wants More Data From Users

Posted by Soulskill on from the can-you-just-drive-me-places dept.

itwbennett tips news that Uber has amended its privacy policy, making it much simpler to read and understand. But the policy also includes changes to what data Uber collects about its riders. Beginning July 15th, the Uber phone app will keep track of a rider's location while it's running in the background. Uber says riders will be able to opt out of this tracking. The policy changes also allow for advertising using the rider's contact list: "for example the ability to send special offers to riders' friends or family." The revision of Uber's privacy policy followed complaints at the end of last year that the company was overstepping its bounds.

5 of 144 comments (clear)

  1. WTF? by gstoddart · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The policy changes also allow for advertising using the rider's contact list: "for example the ability to send special offers to riders' friends or family."

    Wait, you think a user can give you permission to spam their friends and family?

    How about go fuck yourself and not assuming that because you know Bob, you can scrape his contact list to spam Alice and Mary ... that screams of an epic level of ass-hattery. Because Bob can't legally give you permission to spam Alice and Mary.

    Sounds like in addition to being just a dispatcher for illegal cabs, Uber is also a bunch of self entitled assholes who want to spam your friends.

    Fuck you, Uber.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    1. Re:WTF? by gstoddart · · Score: 5, Interesting

      This is quite honestly why I'm getting away from apps.

      Generally, the web page works just fine from mobile, and you don't need to worry about the shit they're doing behind the scenes.

      This whole "oh, just give us access to your contact list and we'll spam them" is crap. Same for things which say "hey, just give us your email password and we'll load your contacts".

      How about piss off, and keep your hands off my private information.

      Someone needs to start pelting the owners of Uber with eggs. Because this screams of greedy assholes deciding they get to have access to your entire phone.

      In which case they deserve to die as a company as fast as possible.

      If someone didn't explicitly opt-in to receive stuff from you, you have no business sending them stuff. In fact, isn't it illegal?

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  2. It's probably too late by fluffernutter · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Uber is a multibillion dollar company now and therefore will continue to have rights that far exceed not only any person but any national government as well. In the world we made, Uber no longer has to follow laws. Sad that America had a big part in making things this way but the average American will only suffer from it.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  3. Re: Uber should start using by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Does this also include the uber app that at&t pushed onto my phone as a non removable system app? There are NO UBER DRIVERS in upstate, backwoods New York

  4. Re:OK, now... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This will not kill Uber, or slow it down in any way. Most people do not care about their privacy online. If they did, Facebook would have sunk a long long time ago.

    They might, if facebook starts spamming your contact list with advertisements purporting to come from you.

    I've used Uber a fair amount lately, but I won't be going forward. For now I'll use Lyft, and if they go the same route, I'll go back to taking cabs and paying a little extra. Mining my contact list like an eastern-block mafia spammer is a step too far, and I think Uber is going to pay for this with a noticable drop of revinue in their bottom line (and they deserve to).

    Good riddence to bad rubbish.