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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. Uber should start using by Megaweapon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    adware-infested installers, perhaps hosted on SourceForge, which could also track customers.

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    I'm sure "SlashdotMedia" will improve on all the wonders that Dice Holdings blessed us all with
  2. 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.

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    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    1. Re:WTF? by dunkindave · · Score: 5, Insightful

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

      Someone at Uber has been studying the LinkedIn business plan.

    2. 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?

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      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  3. Sample mailing by sinij · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dear Bob's Wife,

    Based on Bob's Uber profile statistics we have determined that he took 7 after-hours rides to the red light district during recent months. Please find attached 10% discount coupon for a ride to lawyer's office.

    Sincerely,
    Uber's Customer Retention Team.