Uber has become a great tool to get a quick, inexpensive ride and avoid paying insane taxi mark-ups (unless there is surge pricing). But one of the sacrifices might be putting your personal info at risk.
According to the Center for Investigative Reporting, Uber’s alleged lack of security for its customer data allowed employees to access private information such as addresses and other personal details.
“Uber’s lack of security regarding its customer data was resulting in Uber employees being able to track high profile politicians, celebrities, and even personal acquaintances of Uber employees, including ex-boyfriends/girlfriends, and ex-spouses,” [former Uber forensic investigator Ward] Spangenberg wrote in a court declaration, signed in October under penalty of perjury.
That’s incredibly dangerous information to just hand out. A driver could use it to a commit a crime, such as harassment or identity theft. Hypothetically, they could know everything about your day-to-day journey, including where you live. That’s terrifying. It’s incredible Uber doesn’t have its user data under lock and key. Instead, they’re allegedly careless about it.
To top it off, Spangenberg’s comments aren’t the only hit against Uber’s handling of data. As Uproxx notes, another security member of Uber said the data is held on the honor system – so, those who want to breach it have no real challenge in doing so. Again, what the hell?
Companies using their customer’s data is nothing new (Facebook’s been doing so forever) but, Uber drivers could be anyone. Having access to personal data isn’t something anyone aside from execs (and even then) should be privy too. The allegations should make you uncomfortable about riding with Uber. If it’s true, the data policy needs to be changed pronto.
[Uproxx/Center for Investigative Reporting/Image via Uber]
