Audio Recording for riders
We always want users to feel safe when on a trip via the Uber app. That’s why we designed our new audio recording feature, which will allow riders to record audio during their trip and share it with the Uber Safety Support team in case of an incident.
Riders can now record audio directly during a trip through the Safety Toolkit in the newest version of the Uber app and share the recording with the Uber Safety Support team.
Tap the blue shield to open your Safety Toolkit and access the Record Audio option. The trip audio will be recorded in the app, and you can choose to share it with Uber safety specialists after the ride has ended.
For everyone's safety
Riders can record trip audio through their app to help encourage mutually respectful interactions on trips.
When you set up Audio Recording, your drivers will be notified that you may record trips before pick-up. If you activate recording for the first time during a trip, future drivers will be notified ahead of future trips.
Uber empowers you as a rider to upload a trip audio recording file when you make a safety report with Uber. Be sure not to use the microphone during the recording (e.g. phone calls), as it will pause the recording.
Designed to protect your privacy
When a rider uses this feature during a ride, the audio recording will be stored and encrypted on the phone so that no one - not even the person who initiated the recording, the driver, other passengers, or Uber - can listen to it.
Uber’s safety specialists can only review the recording if the user opens a safety incident report with Uber and includes this audio file. Unless this happens, Uber cannot access any of the content. The audio file will be automatically deleted after 14 days if a rider chooses not to share it with the Uber Support team.
Help Uber investigate
We take safety reports seriously. If you open a report with an audio file, our specialised Safety team will review it. If we receive a recording that is not relevant to a safety incident, we will delete it. If we receive a recording that is relevant to a safety incident, we will notify the driver that a recording has been uploaded for that trip. The audio file will not be shared with the driver.
Uber will take action in accordance with our policies.
- Where is the audio recording feature available?
Audio Recording is currently available in more than a dozen countries throughout Africa, Asia, North America, South America and selected European markets.
- Who can use audio recording?
Where available, riders can initiate a recording through the in-app Safety Toolkit using their own smartphone. Don't see Audio Recording in your Safety Toolkit? Make sure you have the latest version of the app. Drivers don’t have access to Audio Recording at this time. For a full list of safety features available to drivers, see here.
- Why did Uber introduce this feature?
Safety is our top priority and we’re committed to building technologies that help make your Uber experience even safer. Audio Recording is intended to help encourage safe interactions while on a trip, determine what happened, and identify the best response after a safety-related incident.
- Is Audio Recording available on all trips?
Yes.
- Can riders listen to the recording later?
To maintain the privacy of parties in the vehicle, the recorded content is encrypted, you as a rider cannot listen to it. To learn more about our approach to privacy, please see our Privacy Notice.
- Can I stop the recording at any time?
Yes. You can stop recording at any point during your trip by returning to the Safety Toolkit and tapping the recording option. The recording will also stop automatically shortly after your trip ends, however you can continue recording after the trip ends by tapping the in-app notification within five seconds of the trip ending. If you choose not to share it with Uber, the file will be automatically deleted from your device after 14 days.
- What if I would prefer not to be recorded?
Drivers will be notified of the possibility of recording when matched with a rider that has enabled audio recording in their app. If they do not want to be recorded, they may use the “Didn’t want to be recorded” cancellation reason so that they cancel with no impact on their overall cancellation rate.
If UberX Share is available in your market: riders can choose to take a regular Uber trip (instead of an Uber XShare trip), if they want to avoid a situation where another rider could potentially record audio.
It is important to note that riders that record audio are not able to access the recording, as the recording is encrypted on their device. Only Uber can access the recording if a rider chooses to share it with Uber. In case the rider does not share the recording with Uber, it will be automatically deleted after 14 days.
- Does Uber still have access to the recording if I do not send it?
No. If you don’t submit an incident report with the recording attached, Uber has no access to the recording. However, you can choose to upload the audio file up to 14 days after the creation of the safety incident report on the same support thread. The audio file will be automatically deleted after 14 days if you choose not to share it with the Uber Support team within that time frame.
- Is it still recording when I am on a call with someone else?
If you’re using a microphone for other needs during the trip, the recording will automatically stop. You'll have to start recording again on your own after the call by returning to the Safety Toolkit. Please note: once a recording stops, it cannot be resumed — a new recording will begin, and a new audio file will be created.
- Is Uber listening as the recording is happening?
No. Uber can only listen to the recording if you include it with a safety report.
- Will the driver know if I'm recording?
Drivers will be notified of the possibility of recording at the moment they're matched with a rider who has previously set up Audio Recording. If you activate recording for the first time during a trip, only future drivers will be notified that you may record audio. Drivers will not be notified once you start recording on a trip.
- Will Uber provide the recording to anyone else?
In accordance with law enforcement guidelines and third-party data request policies, and as may be required under applicable laws, Uber may provide the audio recording to third parties with appropriate legal process or in emergency situations, if required by law.
- How does Audio Recording work with trips with multiple passengers, like UberX Share?
Where available in Europe, riders can initiate a recording through the in-app Safety Toolkit using their own smartphone. Riders can initiate a recording during any Uber trip, including Uber XShare trips (if available in the specific market). The other party (driver or other rider) in the vehicle will not be notified at the time of recording, though notice has been given to all Uber users that this capability is available. Drivers will be notified of the possibility of recording when matched with a rider that has enabled audio recording in their app.
- How does Audio Recording work on trips requested for others?
The passenger on the trip can set up Audio Recording if they have the Uber app. If the passenger on a trip doesn’t have the Uber app, the feature is not available for them.
- How are the audio files encrypted?
Recordings are encrypted using AES encryption Galois/Counter Mode (GCM) on the consumer’s device. Only Uber has the key to decrypt the file after it has been submitted to our Safety Support team by a user. Importantly, it is the user's choice when to record audio and when to share it with Uber.
- How much storage does Audio Recording use?
This will vary based on your device, but in general 5-7 minutes of recording takes 1MB of space on your device. The encrypted audio files can be manually removed by you within the trip details section after a completed trip. Otherwise, they will be automatically deleted after 14 days of the recording taking place. If you’re concerned about storage, we recommend you uninstall and re-install the Uber app. The audio files will be deleted by uninstalling the Uber app.
- How much data does it use to share the recording with Uber?
If you do need to submit a safety report with a recording attached, we encourage you to connect to Wi-Fi first. Otherwise, your normal data rates will apply.
- How do I share the recording?
- Share at the moment: a pop-up window will appear at the end of the trip, and you can share with Uber on the spot.
- Share later: in the app menu, go to your trip history, tap on the trip if you want to share the report for,, find the recording in your trip details, and share it with Uber. You can also add the recording after creating a safety support request, within the 14 days before the recording is automatically deleted from your device.
- Please note: you can only share audio with Uber after a trip has been completed.
- What will happen after I share the recording with Uber?
A member of Uber’s Safety team will review the report and listen to the contents. Appropriate action will be taken in accordance with our policies and applicable laws.
- I accidentally deleted the recording. Is there any way to recover it?
No, the content is only stored on the device. If you delete it, Uber has no way to recover it.
- When does recording start and stop?
You can start and stop recording at any time through the Safety Toolkit by tapping the blue shield in the app. You can do so multiple times within the trip. Note that each time the recording is stopped, a new audio file will be created.
- What if I forgot to stop the recording?
Recording will automatically stop shortly after the trip is completed.
More about safety at Uber
Count on 24/7 support and emergency assistance. Share your trip with loved ones. Our focus is on your safety, so you can focus on the opportunity.
Millions of trips are requested every day. Every rider has access to safety features built into the app. And every trip has a support team if you need them.