Uber passengers who are reported for not wearing face coverings will have to take a selfie while wearing a mask if they want to get another ride.
The ride-hailing company announced the move in a Tuesday news release. It said the technology is already in use for Uber drivers, who have had to snap a picture of their mask-clad face since earlier this summer. The company said that more than 100 million mask verifications have been completed by drivers and delivery people since its rollout.
“We firmly believe that accountability is a two-way street. That’s why we’re expanding the same technology to riders, too. If a driver reports to us that a rider wasn’t wearing a mask, the rider will be required to take a selfie with their face covered before they’re able to take another trip with Uber,” the company said.
The mask verification technology will be up and running for passengers in the United States and Canada by the end of September and will be rolled out in Latin America and other countries soon after that, Uber said. The company also highlighted that passengers and drivers can cancel a trip free of charge if the other is not wearing a face covering.
“When it comes to safety, we know our work is never done,” Uber said. “That’s why we continue to develop new technology to help drivers stay safe. Wherever you’re traveling, we are committed to helping make every trip and delivery safe for all.”
The news comes the same week that the U.S. surpassed 6 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 resulting in at least 184,270 deaths since the pandemic began.
