Uber launches new facial recognition feature in China

There’s an uncomfortable amount of fraud in the ride-hailing app industry. Drivers have been caught doing everything from spoofing their locations to faking rides to cash in on subsidies.

Apps like Uber, China’s Didi Kuaidi, and India’s Ola have rolled out a suite of security features to crack down on fraud and get a handle on who the hell is driving those cars.

The latest comes from Uber, which unveiled a sophisticated new facial recognition feature on Thursday to make sure drivers are who they say they are. And it will be first launched in China.

Spot checks

Facial recognition will be used to confirm a driver’s identity during registration, and will also be part of periodic spot checks in the app. Read more...