Grab Looking To Track Its Drivers’ Activities Even When They’re Off-Duty


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In this day and age, you are truly never alone and no it isn’t supposed to make you feel better.

I am talking about CCTV cameras planted everywhere, tracking your every move until you reach home.

Image: buzzfeed.com

The plus side to this is that you will always feel that a “big brother” is watching you, so you would think twice if you want to get out of line.

With that said, Grab is planning to track its drivers’ location and habits even when they are not carrying passengers.

Trackers will be installed

According to Straits Times, Grab has asked its rental fleet partners to install trackers by the end of the month for all their cars.

This exercise will be used to collect data to generate daily reports on drivers.

The report will include data such as the car’s speed, coordinates, braking and acceleration. As long as the ignition is on, you’re being recorded.

Having trackers placed in cars is not something new, as it used for recovering missing cars or when accidents occur, but this new exercise is somewhat unprecedented.

When ST asked Uber if they were going to follow suit, they did not confirm anything but they mentioned that they took the trust and privacy of its users seriously.

Well played, Uber. Well played.

Image: tenor.com

A Grab spokesperson told ST that the data generated from the trackers will help them monitor the driver’s driving habits and who may, in turn, enjoy reduced motor insurance premiums or rental charges.

Not to mention, they will be able to identify drivers who are taking jobs for Uber (despite signing exclusive deals with Grab) when they cross-reference the amassed information.

There is always a silver lining (if you look hard enough)

With privacy being such a major issue, especially with the data breach at Uber which came to light recently, I can understand why drivers are on the fence.

Li Jianggan, founder of a Singapore-based tech investment company, Momentum Works mentioned that the data could have other uses in the future such as developing driverless car technology.

I guess someone has to take one for the team.

Thoughts

As of now, this exercise is still in the beginning stages. The Grab spokesman said, “These initiatives are still in their infancy, and we will share more details with our drivers and get their full consent once we have finalised our plans.”


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As for the drivers, they do not feel comfortable being tracked even when they were off duty but felt it was part of the trade-off they had to make for the incentives given by Grab, Straits Times reported.

What do you think? Yay or nay to tracking drivers after work hours?

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This article was first published on goodyfeed.com

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Featured image:  Teerawit Chankowet / shutterstock.com