Online taxi service Uber Technologies, which had a driver was accused of rape in New Delhi, said it was exploring adding new methods to verify drivers’ credentials and make its service safer.<\/p>\n
Uber has started research and development on biometrics and voice verification to build tools for enhanced driver screening, Phillip Cardenas, the company’s global safety, head wrote in a blog. (http:\/\/bit.ly\/1whWUbV)<\/p>\n
The start-up was also exploring new ways to screen drivers, including polygraph tests and adding its own processes on top of commercial license verifications.<\/p>\n
“Of course, no background check can predict future behavior and no technology can yet fully prevent bad actions,” Cardenas said. “But our responsibility is to leverage every smart tool at our disposal.”<\/p>\n
In the United States, Uber’s background-verification process includes checks of court records going back seven years; a multi-state criminal database; and the National Sex Offender Registry, according to Uber policy posted on its website. Activities that disqualify potential drivers include sexual offenses, violent crimes and gun-related infractions.<\/p>\n
But that is not the case internationally, where records are not always kept for the same categories of data as in the United States, or treated with rigor.<\/p>\n
“In some countries the integrity of the data can be compromised as individuals may be able to pay monetary fees to have their records adjusted,” said a spokeswoman from the National Association of Professional Background Screeners.<\/p>\n
The San Francisco-based firm also said it was building safety incident response teams to provide round-the-clock support.<\/p>\n
Uber has been dogged by controversy surrounding its aggressive approach to local governments and traditional taxi services.<\/p>\n
The company’s business practices have come under scrutiny, with some customers alleging privacy violations, as it has grown rapidly around the world in recent months.<\/p>\n
France, Spain and Thailand have banned some or all Uber services. The company’s services have also been banned in New Delhi following the rape allegation.<\/p>\n
Uber case puts India\u2019s treatment of women in spotlight<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Uber taxi rape accused a \u201ccareer criminal\u201d: police<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n