Uber is quietly trialling in-app video recording for drivers in India

Uber has quietly begun trialling in-app video recording for its drivers in India, TechCrunch has learned and confirmed with the company. The tool aims to deter misconduct in a market where most drivers do not use dash cameras, according to Uber.

Six Uber drivers in Delhi and the NCR told TechCrunch that they sometimes face misconduct from riders and, in some cases, are threatened with false complaints about their behavior — allegations that can lead to penalties or even suspension of accounts.

One driver, who requested to remain anonymous for fear of losing his account, said: “Even female passengers traveling late at night insist that we follow the route they want instead of what is shown on the map. If we refuse, they threaten to file false complaints.”

Drivers said the video recording feature within the app could help protect them in such situations by providing evidence when disputes arise. However, some questioned whether Uber would support them in cases involving riders, noting that riders pay for the ride and can easily switch to competing platforms if they are dissatisfied.

The pilot, which began rolling out in phases in May, is now live in 10 cities across India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Jaipur and Lucknow, the company confirmed to TechCrunch.

Passengers receive an in-flight notification when video recording is active.

“All recordings are double-encrypted, stored on the device, and cannot be accessed by anyone — including Uber — unless the user chooses to share them as part of a safety report,” an Uber spokesperson said, adding that recordings are automatically deleted after a week if not shared.

The video tool builds on Uber’s in-app audio recording feature, which launched in India in 2023. Video recording was first tested in the US in 2022 and is already available in Canada and Brazil.

As the pilot program expands, Uber will have to balance the feature’s ability to defuse disputes with broader questions about privacy and surveillance in one of its prominent markets. It’s unclear when the video recording tool will be rolled out more widely, though the performance of the pilot in the coming months will likely determine whether Uber expands it across India or to other regions.