Uber settles FTC data privacy complaint, agrees to 20 years of audits
Embattled ride hailing service Uber has settled a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission over lax data privacy protocols.
The Federal Trade Commission says Uber must implement a robust company-wide privacy program and conduct an audit every two years for the next two decades to meet the FTC data protection standards.
The FTC probe started over Uber’s notorious ‘God View’ program which allowed Uber employees to zero in and track the real-time locations of individual customers.
At the time Uber said it had initiated a ‘strict policy prohibiting’ snooping on customers but in fact that lasted only a few months, FTC staff attorney Ben Rossen.
The FTC was also critical of Uber data security measures after a data breach illegally accessed the personal information of drivers.
"The FTC alleges that Uber did not take reasonable, low-cost measures that could have helped the company prevent the breach," it said.
"Uber failed consumers in two key ways: First by misrepresenting the extent to which it monitored its employees’ access to personal information about users and drivers, and second by misrepresenting that it took reasonable steps to secure that data," FTC acting chairman Maureen Ohlhausen said.
Uber says it has since beefed up its data security team following the allegations in 2014, and it hired its first chief security officer in 2015.
"This settlement provides an opportunity to work with the FTC to further verify that our programs protect user privacy and personal information," a company statement said.
Uber is not required to pay a fine but still faces various other issues which has sullied its reputation from sexual harassment claims to allegations of stealing trade secrets.
It is also without a permanent chief executive after Travis Kalanick was forced to resign recently.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps