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Uber launches live video streaming for teen rides as parents gain real-time view inside vehicles
- Perry Richardson
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Uber has introduced live video streaming for teen account journeys, allowing parents and guardians to view what is happening inside a vehicle while their child is travelling.
The feature uses the front-facing camera on the driver’s smartphone to provide a live video feed during an active trip. According to Uber, the system has initially gone live across nine US markets, with expansion nationwide planned over the coming weeks.
Parents or guardians linked to a teenager’s account receive a push notification when an eligible journey begins and the driver has live video enabled. They can then access the stream on demand for the duration of the trip.
Both the driver and teenage passenger are notified when the parent or guardian starts watching the live feed. Uber said this provides transparency for those inside the vehicle rather than allowing guardians to watch without their knowledge.
Privacy arrangements around the technology are likely to be particularly important as Uber expands its use, given that the system involves video captured inside drivers’ vehicles and teenage passengers.
Uber said only the parent or guardian linked to the teen account can watch the stream during an active journey. The video is encrypted and the company said the driver, guardian and teenager cannot subsequently access a recording after the trip ends.
However, Uber said it can review the encrypted recording if a safety incident is reported and the footage is required as part of an investigation.
The development represents another step in Uber’s expansion of services designed specifically for younger passengers. Teen accounts were launched in 2023 and are now available to families across more than 50 countries.
Uber said families complete tens of millions of journeys using teen accounts each year. Existing safety functions include live journey tracking, PIN verification and audio recording.
For drivers, the introduction of live streaming potentially changes the environment in which teen journeys are undertaken. A parent could effectively observe parts of a journey remotely, although drivers are notified when the streaming function is being used.
Uber has not announced in the supplied information whether live video streaming will be introduced to UK teen accounts.
