Uber Explains Why its App Appears to Track Users Days or Even Weeks After a Ride

[C DM]

This is just diverting the topic. Using maps extension is not even a question here.

Uber removed location access option "While using the app" and kept "Always" and "Never". So that they can track you always.

PS: I am not an idiot you Uber muppets!

We'll, they can't if the app is actually closed or never have been launched (since restart let's say) to begin with.

 

[Rigby]

What if an app only works correctly with the ‘always’ access? For example, an app that is used to survey a location. If the app does not work as intended without this, then developer has to use all sorts of in-app constructs to make sure that the user understands this.

Any app has to be prepared to work without location updates anyway, for example if the user puts the phone in airplane mode. I agree with the previous poster, Apple should make the "while using" option available to the user and enforce it whether the app developer wants it or not.

 

[d5aqoëp]

I still have the "while using the app" option. I'm running the latest update of Uber. Does that option disappear if I delete and reinstall the app?

You are lucky. Or maybe you have not updated your app. I don't have that option anymore since last 2-3 updates.

Any app has to be prepared to work without location updates anyway, for example if the user puts the phone in airplane mode. I agree with the previous poster, Apple should make the "while using" option available to the user and enforce it whether the app developer wants it or not.

Apple themselves are guilty. The default Weather app keeps complete track of you. There is no While Using option for it.

In few years, most companies will jump on "Always using" bandwagon if Apple does not intervene.

 

[KALLT]

Any app has to be prepared to work without location updates anyway, for example if the user puts the phone in airplane mode. I agree with the previous poster, Apple should make the "while using" option available to the user and enforce it whether the app developer wants it or not.

Location services are not completely unavailable when Airplane Mode is enabled. Ultimately, the user always has the choice to allow location services in the first place. All Apple needs to do is establish a policy that compels developers to offer the ‘while using’ option. They do the same with App Transport Security when a developer requests an exception. I do not like such technical restrictions when a policy could achieve the same.

In any case, it seems that Apple is moving away from the ‘always’ option anyway. The ‘while using’ option is a bit misleading, because apps can still track you in the background with this. Only the trigger is different. They have been substituting the raw functionality with specific API calls and call-backs. I expect Apple to get rid of it eventually.

 

[dontwalkhand]

So what about my battery? I choose things to state while using the app not only for privacy but I actually want my phone to last the day! Constantly pinging GPS is not the way to save battery!

 

[2457282]

I suggest everyone switch to Lyft. I had it with Uber over a year ago and did the switch. Better experience, better drivers, just better imho.

 

[Rigby]

Location services are not completely unavailable when Airplane Mode is enabled. Ultimately, the user always has the choice to allow location services in the first place.

The point is that the app has to be prepared to work without location services anyway. The process that apps have to use to determine whether location is available is well documented.

All Apple needs to do is establish a policy that compels developers to offer the ‘while using’ option.

They are already discouraging the use of the "always" option (see e.g. here). As Uber shows, it's not enough.

The ‘while using’ option is a bit misleading, because apps can still track you in the background with this. Only the trigger is different.

Not true. When this option is set, apps cannot start location services while running in the background. They also cannot use any location services that can automatically relaunch the app the in background, even while running in the foreground.

 

[C DM]

You are lucky. Or maybe you have not updated your app. I don't have that option anymore since last 2-3 updates.


Apple themselves are guilty. The default Weather app keeps complete track of you. There is no While Using option for it.

In few years, most companies will jump on "Always using" bandwagon if Apple does not intervene.

The while using option wasn't even there for quite a while until only a few years ago recently.

 

[miniyou64]

I think the UI is great. It could be tweaked in a few places. I mean...if it bothers you that much they'res always Android

UI is not the same as UX. And Apple is not worse than the competition, just not even close to as good as where they used to be.

 

[Pablo90]

What? I doubt it. Where are you from that this is something that many do?

Well, Switzerland... But I did that in LA as well...
Only in Czech Republic and Slovakia it's not worth it

 

[makr]

To me it's quite obvious why they are tracking users for a few minutes after a ride... because many get in the car, negotiate a better price with the driver, and interrupt the official transaction on Uber.. this way Uber can track and see if people are doing this

If you do that you'll be using someone's car that is not insured.
Also uber is not the owner of the cars drivers are free to choose their customers outside uber.

 

[Bryan Bowler]

I gotta tell you guys (and gals), I have several close friends that have worked for Uber and as a company, Uber is extremely arrogant and abrasive. They way they are handling the issue here is arrogant too. Their attitude drives me to intentionally not use them and I use Lyft instead. Lyft has a far better attitude and culture to it and they are not arrogant like Uber.

Anyway, the point is Uber is saying “it’s not our fault” which is a terrible attitude to have. I also don’t agree with Uber being able to track you anytime they want. They say that they are only tracking and analyzing what you do for 5 minutes after you complete your ride with them, but there have been verified documented examples of Uber engineers pulling deeper tracking data to check on ex-girlfriends, etc. (And a few lawsuits because of it too.)

I will not use an app from a company that has been known to track you for nefarious purposes and that is exactly what Uber has done.

 

[997440]

[...]
The ‘while using’ option is a bit misleading, because apps can still track you in the background with this. Only the trigger is different.
[...]

[...]
Not true. When this option is set, apps cannot start location services while running in the background. They also cannot use any location services that can automatically relaunch the app the in background, even while running in the foreground.

Considering the "while using" option -- does this prevent the app from using "deferred location updates"?

 

[canadianreader]

I've disabled it altogether and it just prompts me for addresses when I use it. I had one situation since doing so that it didn't seem to properly launch and then I did as you do: turned on location services, requested the Uber, turned it back off.

I really like Uber and feel they are a HUGE step up (that doesn't even do it justice) from the legacy taxi systems, I do hope this press makes them provide a config option for this particular aspect of their service though.

I enable it only when I use it and once I'm done I re-disable it I just don't like an app tracking me everywhere I go.

 

[C DM]

To me it's quite obvious why they are tracking users for a few minutes after a ride... because many get in the car, negotiate a better price with the driver, and interrupt the official transaction on Uber.. this way Uber can track and see if people are doing this

How would that tracking demonstrate that that is what is happening and not all kinds of other things?

 

[drewyboy]

Disable location access to Uber app when you are not using it that should fix it.

Sure sounds like a "you're holding it wrong" excuse.
[doublepost=1482529629][/doublepost]

Don't know what's the truth though. But the idea of someone tracking you like this surely scares th hell out of me.

The truth? Nothing that comes out of Uber's PR is true. They're egotistical unethical capatilists.

 

[tangfish]

Every statement by Uber with regard to their recent aspirations to leverage users' location services against their will amounts to "it's just the tip, baby."

No. Means. No.

 

[NY Guitarist]

Tracking for days or weeks!?? As soon as my trip is over that should be the end of it. 5 minutes is 5 minutes more than they need to know about what I do.

Had a couple of bad experiences with Uber drivers once I got in the car trying to say their app 'wasn't working' and 'could we do cash'. Funny the app was working when it directed the car to me.
Another driver 'forgot' to complete my trip after I got out and added 8 miles and travel time. Uber was eventually ok about a refund but the whole thing seems sketchy.

Will give Lyft a try.

 

[canadianreader]

Sure sounds like a "you're holding it wrong" excuse.
[doublepost=1482529629][/doublepost]
The truth? Nothing that comes out of Uber's PR is true. They're egotistical unethical capatilists.

You understood me wrong...or maybe not anyways..
To stop being tracked when you're not using Uber disable the location access to the app until they restore "while using app" option instead of "always"

 

[Sill]

Apple themselves are guilty. The default Weather app keeps complete track of you. There is no While Using option for it.

How do you know this? I've never found any evidence of that behavior, and I'm very particular about how I set up each new iPhone.

 

[Thor_1]

If an app requires "always" for location that app is deleted. There is always another app that can be used, especially with regards to weather.

 

[Glassed Silver]

Color is a terrible differentiation for UI for accessibility reasons. But Apple stopped caring about great UX since iOS7.

It's great in combination with other ways.

Looking at macOS today for example the utter lack of colors in Finder for example making navigation time-consuming and tiring.

Don't have your GUI depend on colors, but by God use them.

Can't wait for this cold dark age to be over.

That being said, yes, iOS 7 and up is even worse than the Mac side of things.

Glassed Silver:ios

 

[miniyou64]

It's great in combination with other ways.

Looking at macOS today for example the utter lack of colors in Finder for example making navigation time-consuming and tiring.

Don't have your GUI depend on colors, but by God use them.

Can't wait for this cold dark age to be over.

That being said, yes, iOS 7 and up is even worse than the Mac side of things.

Glassed Silver:ios

I totally agree. I meant color as the *only* differentiator.

 

[Exhale]

How do you know this? I've never found any evidence of that behavior, and I'm very particular about how I set up each new iPhone.

Because otherwise the app would not be able to report local weather.

 

[bozzykid]

So what about my battery? I choose things to state while using the app not only for privacy but I actually want my phone to last the day! Constantly pinging GPS is not the way to save battery!

Using the phone's GPS is only one of several ways that iOS gets location data. The other methods do not use much battery. It is doubtful this is causing much change to your battery.