Uber Launches Live Video Streaming for Teen Rides

Uber has launched a new live video streaming feature for its teen accounts, allowing parents and guardians to watch their children's rides in real time through the driver's smartphone camera. The feature, which began rolling out on August 25 in nine U.S. markets, is designed to add a layer of visibility beyond the existing location tracking for teenagers aged 13 to 17 using the service.

When a teen linked to a guardian's account begins a trip with an eligible driver, the guardian receives a push notification. Tapping it opens a live feed from the driver's front-facing phone camera, which typically shows the backseat area and the driver. Both the teenager and the driver are notified when the guardian starts watching. The livestream automatically ends when the trip concludes.

Uber states the video is encrypted and accessible only to the linked guardian during the trip. The company says it will store an encrypted recording for up to 14 days, which will be automatically deleted unless a safety incident is reported. In such cases, Uber may retain the footage longer and can access it using a decryption key for investigation.

The feature is not automatic for all drivers. Drivers must...