I don't know specific programs that are in place or upcoming, not my jam.
> Does this mean that you actually do keep my individual GPS data and it could be looked up later?
Trip location data is attached to users. You can look it up yourself on the Uber website (riders.uber.com). With regard to data collected from rider devices, I don't know the technical details but I assume it's not living in aggregate.
At the end of the day, we're an engineering- and data-driven company. Pickups and dropoffs are overwhelmingly the most painful parts of the average Uber ride, and we know startlingly little about them: that's what this initiative is about. We want to make things better for our users, and overwhelmingly, things like this do lead to improvements. Whether you trust what we do with the five minutes of data is up to you. I'm not here to speak about our character, though I certainly wouldn't be around if I thought Uber is a bad company.
If Uber was really serious about user privacy, this would be a no brainer feature to offer.
Also, why isn't there an option to delete previous trip data?
It's also the case that the record of your trip isn't just data. It's the receipt for an actual thing that happened. A transaction between three or more parties takes place. That data needs to be preserved for any number of the reasons, including government compliance. Even just handling credit card disputes makes it invaluable.
A receipt is the piece of paper or electronic record showing how much your trip cost.
Show me an example of someone using trip data as a primary form for handling CC dispute. Please also back up your statement that trip data has to be kept forever for government compliance.
Lastly, what if my driver and I both want to delete trip data? Per your argument, is there an existing option to delete trip data then? I didn't think so.
A receipt is a proof of transaction and completely separate from whatever data you collected about your customers, your statement makes little sense. That it facilitates disputes doesn't change the nature of data privacy, it is just convenient for you and the bank.
I also noticed you said that it's queried in aggregate, but that is distinct from it living in aggregate. Does this mean that you actually do keep my individual GPS data and it could be looked up later?
I am still unconvinced that this is necessary, even with those (potential) improvements. I am relatively okay with allowing Uber access to my location outside of the app during the period between me requesting a ride and being picked up, and of course I'm okay with allowing access when I'm physically in the car. But after I get dropped off is a much harder thing to accept. Most of the things you suggested were for before I get picked up, not after. In fact, the only things you suggested were not on that bullet list but in the second to last paragraph ("we can avoid charging you if your driver was looking for you at the wrong location and gave up"; "We can better see where you were actually dropped off at, if your driver lies and leaves the app running after you've left the car").
I understand that Uber itself is trying to be a better company and is trying to move beyond its past life as a cavalier company that suggested looking up information about journalists who write negative things about the company, but it's a really hard image to shake and understandably many people are distrustful of a company whose executives were okay with this. I could very much see a member of Uber's counsel requesting GPS data on some user who filed a lawsuit and giving it to a private investigator (considering that Uber did in fact request information about and that a PI to do investigation into a person who filed a lawsuit against Kalanick).