Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Uber Wants To Track Your Location Even When You're Not Using the App, Here's Why (businessinsider.com)

Posted by msmash on from the why-they-do-what-they-do dept.

With the most recent update to Uber's ride-hailing app, the company has begun requesting users if they are willing to share their location data with Uber app even while the app is not in use. The company says it plans to use the data gained to improve user experience -- including offering improved pick-up times and locations. From an article on Business Insider: In August the company moved away from using Google Maps for its service and began using its own mapping technology. Google's lack of accuracy in many non-Western countries led to increased friction between consumers and drivers. This means the company needs to boost the amount of location data it has. Location data could also be used to provide new channels of revenue for the digital platform. This could include serving ads of local businesses or recommending nearby places of interest to users. Mobile marketing, which relies on accurate location data is a rapidly growing industry and could serve as a revenue windfall for Uber in the years ahead as it faces increasing competition. In fact, revenue from location-targeted mobile ads is expected to grow at an annualized rate of almost 34% between 2014 and 2019, surpassing $18 billion, according to a forecast from BIA/Kelsey.

8 of 131 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Why not? by tripleevenfall · · Score: 3, Insightful

    :::deletes the Uber app:::

  2. Think Nothing of it, Uber! by Jonathan+C.+Patschke · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The sole reason I charge my mobile and pay my data plan is so that companies can use me to improve their business plans and profitability while providing me with zero compensation. Let me know if I can do something else to help!

    Raymond Chen has a recurring theme on his Old New Thing blog of "What if applications other than yours did this?" What would battery life or capped data plans look like if every application felt a need to send location telemetry home all the time?

    --
    Pining for the days when The Glorious MEEPT!!! graced SlapDash with his wisdom.
  3. "Willing to"??? by pla · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I don't even keep location services turned on except when I need to use my phone as a GPS, never mind allow any apps to access it.

    Why the hell would I want to share my location with Uber? Oh, right - "Location data could also be used to provide new channels of revenue for the digital platform. This could include serving ads of local businesses". Yeah, kindly fuck right off, Uber.

    1. Re:"Willing to"??? by TroII · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I don't understand why you don't put your SSN in your sig. That information is being stored indefinitely by the government, your bank, and your doctor's office, and it's being shared with God knows who. For some reason you're OK with that, but you don't give it out to everyone? Very strange.

      --
      "If there was a gay Afro-Puertorican Linux distribution, I'd give it a try" ~lucm
  4. Re: Why not? by Malc · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Sounds like overkill. Currently I have it to set to 'While Using', but if this changes to 'Always' -- which is really annoying -- then I will disable location services for the app and enable it only when needed. Given that I use Uber infrequently, this is fine. Incidentally I already do this with Waze, which makes perfect sense to me because I don't have a car so my location info doesn't help other users.

  5. Just stop with the bullshit already. by geekmux · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "...The company says it plans to use the data gained to improve user experience..."

    Oh, enough with the bullshit.

    You want this additional telemetry data because you're going to sell it.

    You want this additional telemetry data because you're going to sell it.

    You want this additional telemetry data because you're going to sell it.

    Revenue and Profit are the king and queen of business, so drop the lame-ass excuses for gathering more data already. Shit gets old.

  6. Re:Why not? by myowntrueself · · Score: 4, Insightful

    At the END of the transaction is when you provide those details. Not just from simply visiting the airline booking website.

    If I can't create an account without providing CC details that service will NEVER get my business. Providing your CC details upon login or account creation is just stupid and riff with all kinds of potential problems. What if the account creation fails? Create my account then once I'm securely logged into my account I'll provide those details, but only then. Asking for those details before those steps have been done means you will never get my money.

    I do really hope those Uber/Lyft drivers are getting educated or trained in some other profession though. Not a single one of them will have a job or 2nd income from these ride sharing companies in 10 years.

    Yeah its the way Uber wants to hold onto your card details, you know, just in case they decide they ever need to take some more money from you without having to contact you first.

    Dodgy as fuck.

    --
    In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
  7. Re:Why not? by 110010001000 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Get over yourself. Uber isn't going to steal $5 from you. It isn't in their best interest to do so. You are a very small minded person.