Uber is launching a program that encourages drivers to report any suspicious activity of riders to the police.
The program, which is coordinated with Crime Stoppers USA, will launch
in five U.S. cities: Jacksonville, Fla.; Atlanta; Indianapolis; New
Orleans; and Las Vegas. It will utilize an app that allows drivers to
send anonymous tips to law enforcement via Crime Stoppers, which already
has networks set-up in those five cities. Crime Stoppers sometimes give
cash rewards to tipsters and Uber drivers will also be eligible for
compensation.
Drivers, who are not classified as employees of Uber but are considered
independent contractors, will not receive any special training about
what activity they should report.
"They are encouraged to report any information that they see or hear
about during their travel," Barb Bergin, chairwoman of Crime Stoppers
USA, told UPI, adding: "Uber encourages the drivers to beware of
potential human-trafficking situations and other crimes. Bottom line is
if drivers are concerned or suspicious they are encouraged to report."
Law enforcement agencies in the cities where the programs have launched
have relationships with Crime Stoppers. But in Jacksonville, no special
arrangements are being made to accommodate the Uber program.
"We don't have anything to do with that," Melissa Buejda, the public
information officer for the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, said of the
Uber-Crime Stoppers program. But she said that JSO does receive
anonymous tips via Crime Stoppers "all the time."
The situation is different in Atlanta, where the Atlanta Police
Department has a full-time employee tasked with acting as a liaison
between Crime Stoppers and investigators, APD public affairs director
Carlos Campos said.
In a statement announcing the program, Uber said the new program is part
of the company's growing effort to cooperate with law enforcement
agencies around the world.
"Uber has invested in a global team of former law enforcement
professionals, response team specialists and an online portal for law
enforcement use only. These three components work together to inform,
cooperate with, and respond to law enforcement's investigative needs,"
said Mike Sullivan, the head of Uber's global law enforcement
operations.
In addition to the five U.S. cities, the Uber and Crime Stoppers program
also launched in two Canadian cities -- Toronto and Ottawa -- and there
are plans to launch in Latin America, as well.
In October, Uber was one of several tech companies, NGOs and law
enforcement agencies that signed the Hague Accord at the Crime Stoppers
International conference in The Netherlands. According to CSI, the
accord is "an effort to lead a progressive movement to empower
communities to take action against criminals and criminal networks
through anonymous reporting networks."
Although Uber is encouraging drivers to report suspicious activity, the
company cooperates with law enforcement by providing them with data on
riders.
In its latest transparency report, released in July, state and federal
law enforcement agencies requested information on more than 17,000
riders and nearly 2,600 drivers during 2017.
Of those requests, Uber complied fully or partially in about 70 percent of cases, according to the report.
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