Uber launches Real-Time ID Check in the UK

Uber has started rolling out Real-Time ID Check for all drivers across the UK.

Real Time ID Check will verify that driver accounts are not being used by anyone other than the licensed individuals who have undergone an Enhanced DBS check.

“Safety is our number one priority. There is nothing more important than the safety of the riders and drivers who use the Uber app,” the on-demand taxi service wrote in a blog post.

Uber will regularly ask its drivers to take a real-time photo of themselves for verification. The photos will be matched against the account holder’s profile picture, which will have been checked against the driver’s licence.

To help respect their privacy, drivers can choose whether their selfie is verified by photo-comparison software or by human reviewers.

If a driver fails the ID Check, their account will immediately be temporarily suspended so that Uber can carry out further tests and verification processes.

“New innovations like this help everyone to enjoy a safe trip. Yet when it comes to safety on our platform, our work is never done,” the blog post continued.