Uber has discreetly started testing an in-app video recording option for its drivers in India, TechCrunch has discovered and verified with the company. According to Uber, this feature aims to discourage inappropriate behavior in a market where most drivers lack dashcams.
Several Uber drivers from the Delhi–NCR area shared with TechCrunch that they occasionally encounter unruly conduct from passengers and, at times, face threats of being falsely accused of misconduct—claims that could result in penalties or even suspension of their accounts.
“Even women traveling late at night often demand that we take the route they prefer instead of following the map. If we decline, they threaten to submit false complaints,” one driver explained, requesting anonymity due to concerns about losing his account.
Drivers believe that the video recording function within the app could offer them protection in these circumstances by serving as evidence during disputes. However, some expressed doubts about whether Uber would support them in conflicts with passengers, pointing out that riders pay for the service and can easily switch to other ride-hailing apps if unhappy.
Uber confirmed to TechCrunch that the pilot, which started rolling out in stages in May, is currently active in 10 Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Lucknow.
Passengers are notified during their trip when video recording is enabled.
Uber’s alert for in-app video recording.
Image Credits:Jagmeet Singh / TechCrunch
“All video files are protected with double encryption, saved on the device, and remain inaccessible to anyone—including Uber—unless a user decides to submit them as part of a safety report,” an Uber representative stated, noting that recordings are erased automatically after seven days if not shared.
This video feature builds upon Uber’s in-app audio recording tool, which debuted in India in 2023. The video recording capability was initially piloted in the U.S. in 2022 and is already operational in Canada and Brazil.
As Uber broadens this pilot, the company must weigh the feature’s ability to resolve conflicts against larger concerns about privacy and surveillance in one of its key markets. There is no clear timeline for a broader rollout, but the pilot’s results in the coming months will likely determine whether Uber expands it throughout India or introduces it elsewhere.
