Uber can now track passengers' locations after they are dropped off

The new feature will ask users to share their location even after they have availed the serivce

Ride-hailing service Uber recently rolled out an update for its app which will now allow it to keep track of the user's location in the background even when they are not using it. This new feature will allow for better pick-ups and drop-offs by its drivers, the company claims.

“We’re always thinking about ways we can improve the rider experience from sharpening our ETA estimates to identifying the best pick up location on any given street. Location is at the heart of the Uber experience, and we’re asking riders to provide us with more information to achieve these goals,” an Uber spokesperson said in a statement.



Previously the app also collected information while it was open on a user's phone. Now the ride-hailing service asks users to share their location even after they have been dropped off.

Uber laid the ground work for its recent update last year when it tweaked its privacy policy to allow for background location data collection. The move attracted much criticism from privacy groups and a complaint from Federal Trade Commission at the time. The 3.222.4 update for the app was however rolled out only recently.



The company claims it can harvest user’s location data in the background however it will not use that option. Specifically, the service wants to track a rider’s location from the moment they requests a ride until five minutes after the driver drops them off.

Luckily Uber has added an option for those who might not approve of the app tracking their location. The app allows users to turn off location sharing in their phones settings.

This article originally appeared on Tech  Crunch