- Kyle Chua
Grab Singapore Rolls Out New Safety Feature That Allows Passengers, Drivers Record Audio
Grab Singapore is introducing a new feature that could help resolve disputes in the event there is one.
Dubbed AudioProtect, the safety feature lets passengers and drivers record audio during the trip. The recordings can be used to resolve incidents in a more efficient manner, including those that concern verbal, physical and sexual harassment, or abuse cases, as The Straits Times reports.
Passengers and drivers alike can enable the feature on the Grab app via account safety settings after a ride is booked. They both, however, have to give consent before the recording can begin. Once the feature is enabled, it'll be set as the default for all future rides as long as fellow passenger or driver consents. Grab users can similarly disable the feature by heading back to the account safety settings before a ride.
After recording, the audio files are encrypted and stored locally on users' devices for a maximum of five days before being deleted, if no safety incident is reported. But the files can only be accessed by Grab's safety team if a report is made, and cannot be accessed by either the passenger or the driver.
In case a safety incident report is placed within the recording's allotted time frame, the audio files will be stored in Grab's servers for six months and will automatically be deleted after that period, unless the case isn't resolved yet.
Grab also notes that passengers' recordings will be paused when they take a call and will only be resumed after the call ends. But drivers' recordings can continue on their own devices.
"We have come a long way from just having an SOS button for users to reach out to authorities if they are in an emergency situation," said Kimberly Lim, Head of Safety and Quality at Grab. "Tech advancements have allowed us to play a more preventive role instead of only providing assistance post-incident."
Grab Singapore is already rolling out the feature as part of a trial starting 21 March, after which it'll be available on all rides except for GrabShare and GrabHitch.
Grab Singapore is rolling out AudioProtect, a new safety feature that lets passengers and drivers record audio during the trip.
The recordings can be used to resolve incidents in a more efficient manner, including those that concern verbal, physical and sexual harassment, or abuse cases.
The feature will be available on all Grab rides except GrabShare and GrabHitch starting 21 March as part of a trial.