A recent incident in Kerala has raised serious concerns about passenger safety and privacy after an Uber driver allegedly sent inappropriate messages to a female passenger.
The incident came to light when the woman, Smriti Kannan, took to social media to express her distress and frustration over the violation of her privacy.
Smriti Kannan had booked an Uber ride from her residence to a nail parlor in Edappally. However, after completing her journey, she received unexpected WhatsApp messages from the driver, Muhammad Mishal. The messages contained intrusive questions, including, “Which spray are you using?”—a remark that left Kannan feeling uncomfortable and alarmed.
Taking to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Kannan publicly shared screenshots of the conversation while questioning Uber’s privacy settings. She directly addressed Uber India, raising concerns about how the driver was able to access her contact details and stressing the need for improved safety measures.
In her post, she wrote:
“WHAT THE FK @Uber_India how bad are your privacy settings? An Uber driver messages me on WhatsApp and asks me creepy questions. Seriously how safe are women???”**
Uber’s Response to the Privacy Breach
The ride-hailing giant promptly addressed the issue, explaining that the driver had accessed the passenger’s phone number through a third-party payment platform rather than the Uber app itself. An Uber spokesperson clarified:
“Phone numbers for riders and drivers are anonymized on all Uber trips, and the number cannot be accessed through the Uber platform. In this case, the driver accessed the rider’s number through the UPI app used for payment. Uber strictly prohibits post-trip contact, and as this violates our community guidelines, the driver’s access to our platform has been revoked.”
While Uber maintains that its platform ensures anonymity between drivers and riders, the incident has sparked concerns over data security loopholes in third-party payment methods. Many social media users have since called for stricter measures to prevent drivers from obtaining personal contact details through alternative means.
Kannan’s experience has once again highlighted the challenges ride-hailing services face in ensuring a secure and harassment-free experience for passengers, particularly women. With privacy breaches and safety concerns becoming recurrent topics of discussion, companies like Uber may need to enforce additional safeguards and policies to uphold passenger trust.
Although Uber has acted swiftly by banning the driver from its platform, the incident underscores the urgent need for ride-hailing companies to reevaluate their privacy policies. Enhanced security measures, stricter enforcement of guidelines, and better integration of payment systems could be vital steps toward ensuring a safer experience for passengers.
As the discussion around digital privacy and security continues to grow, this case serves as a reminder that even the smallest lapses in privacy settings can lead to significant safety concerns.