Uber et Lyft ont bloqué il y a sept ans une initiative visant à exiger des conducteurs d’applications de réservation de voiture par téléphone d’être soumis à des empreintes digitales en Californie. Toutefois, en lançant Uber pour les ados en début d’année, l’entreprise a involontairement fait ressurgir la question.
Débat émergent
Il existe actuellement un débat plus large entre les start-ups, Uber et les régulateurs californiens afin de préciser le moment où il est nécessaire que le service de transport soit lié aux empreintes digitales des chauffeurs.
Lancement d’Uber pour ados
En février dernier, Uber for Teens a été lancé en Californie permettant ainsi aux jeunes âgés entre 13 et 17 ans de réserver leur propres courses par l’intermédiaire du compte parent. Des documents publics montrent qu’Uber se tourna vers la California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) pour obtenir une explication concernant une décision rendue en 2016 qui stipulait que toute société dont “principalement mineurs” était impliquée devrait procéder à une vérification stricte des antécédents de ses conducteurs y compris l’empreinte digitale.
Appel à clarification
Que voulait dire « principalement »? Tel était ce qu’Uber voulait savoir. Est-ce que la commission avait prévu mettre à jour ce terme très bientôt?
Période de commentaires publics
This triggered a period of public comments that encouraged arguments supporting fingerprinting from potential rivals, such as HopSkipDrive, a startup offering ride-sharing services for kids.
Opportunity for HopSkipDrive
The timing has proved advantageous for HopSkipDrive. Its primary business is helping school districts transport kids, but it also has a product that enables parents to pre-arrange rides for their children, which could directly compete with Uber for Teens.
Advocacy for Fingerprints
Through the public comments, HopSkipDrive unexpectedly has the opportunity to hold Uber—one of the industry’s giants—to the same standards held against it and taxi firms.
Supporting Safety Rules
Although Uber does not primarily transport minors, HopSkipDrive argues that it should comply with requirements outlined in the 2016 ruling. To limit those requirements “suggests that even one child, riding alone, shouldn’t be protected to the highest safety standards.
Trustline Program
Whether Uber should be mandated to participate in the California Department of Justice’s Trustline software is significant to this debate. It also monitors candidates for the Child Abuse Central Index, which incorporates reports of suspected toddler abuse and neglect.
Uber’s Current Practices
While its teen service does not account for a significant part of its business—according to a company spokesperson quoted by TechCrunch, teen rides make up less than 10% of overall rides—this may change over time. Regardless, Uber feels confident that its own screening system and safety measures incorporated into Uber for Teens, like live trip tracking, are enough to keep all ages safe while riding.
Proactive Engagement
“Even though it will be a while before the firm is granted its regulatory clearance, we are optimistic that the CPUC will recognize the importance of this product for busy families and drivers and how it incorporates safety.”
Fingerprinting Controversy
Uber is touchy about fingerprinting. 89% of Uber drivers’ background checks do not include fingerprinting, a measure now required by most taxi regulations. The fingerprints collected by the FBI are frequently incomplete or out-of-date and also discriminate against minority populations.
Skirting Rules
While many major cities require fingerprint background checks for taxi drivers, Uber and Lyft have circumvented them (except in New York City).
Uber’s Background Checks
For one thing, Uber insists that fingerprinting is not necessary to conduct comprehensive background checks. Besides checking all criminal convictions, such as sexual offenses, through motor vehicle reports, Uber stated in a filing with CPUC last June that it redoes these driver checks every twelve months and then “continues monitoring California drivers for disqualifying criminal offenses and driving violations.”
Trustline System Limitations
According to Uber, another reason Trustline isn’t enough is that Uber’s check (facilitated by Checkr) looks into every state/county where a driver has lived or had any contact with police.
Safety Features for Teens
Besides running background checks, it claims that its app, designed specifically for teenagers, promotes safety. For example, only highly rated and most experienced drivers are matched with teens seeking transportation services.
Safety Measures
Before getting into an Uber, teens must provide drivers with a unique PIN created by their folks, without which trips cannot begin. Parents who enable microphone permissions also make.
Development of Teen Accounts
Uber also said that teen accounts took over a year to develop and consulted safety experts, including Safe Kids Worldwide, a child protection charity that addresses preventable injuries.
