With updated app, Uber hopes to access users' phone contacts [View all]
Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
By MICHAEL LIEDTKE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
This article was published today at 1:56 a.m.
SAN FRANCISCO -- Uber is taking its ride-hailing app down a new road in an effort to make it smarter, simpler and more fun to use.
The redesigned app also will seek to mine personal information stored on smartphones in a change that could raise privacy concerns, even though it will be up to individual users to let Uber peer into their calendars and address books.
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Starting in December, Uber will also seek access to users' personal contacts so they can ask for a ride to where a friend currently is, even if the friend isn't home. If this feature is activated, Uber's app will contact the friend to ask if he or she is willing to share the current location. If the friend doesn't have the Uber app, the request will be sent through a text message to the mobile number listed in the address book.
Uber says it doesn't expect privacy objections because users will have to agree to allow the app to scan their calendars and address books. And people whose locations are being sought through the new address-book feature will be able to decide if they want to share the information.
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Read more: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/nov/07/with-updated-app-uber-hopes-to-access-u/?f=business
How much will the NSA pay them for using THAT feature?
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