Uber has announced that it will require drivers to take selfies before signing on to the platform and accepting ride requests. The new feature, called Real-Time ID Check, is described as a way to prevent fraud and protects drivers’ accounts from being compromised. Robin Tombs, CEO, Yoti commented below.
Robin Tombs, CEO at Yoti:
“Uber making its drivers verify their identity with a selfie is a great step when it comes to improving safety levels within the service. On demand and peer to peer platforms, including organisations such as Uber and Airbnb, face huge challenges when it comes to security and authentication. They need to find a balance between effective security and a great user experience which will keep customers coming back again and again. With selfie authentication, customers can see the identity of the person’s car they are getting into, or home they are staying at, quickly and easily. For the driver, it’s a simple process that will ensure customers feel safe and, in turn, come back to use the service again.
“Uber’s announcement marks part of a larger trend towards the use of biometrics, whether that be the use of a heartbeat, fingerprint or a selfie. In the near future, consumers will be able to prove who they are online using biometrics verified to e-passports and other documents across a whole host of sites, from online dating to banking, eliminating the use of a traditional password altogether.”
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