Uber To Require Some Riders To Take A Mask Selfie Before Requesting A Car

Uber announced that users who have violated the ride-sharing company's policy on wearing masks will be required to take a mask selfie before they can request a car. In May, Uber started requiring both drivers and passengers to wear a mask. While most people have complied, there have been a few outliers who have been banned for refusing to cover their face.

Uber hopes the new policy will prevent issues with customers before the driver arrives.

"If we do have people who are still violating the policy, we want to be able to verify them with an extra step," Uber's Senior Director of Product Management, Sachin Kansal, told ABC News. "And if they're not wearing a mask, they will not be able to take a ride."

Uber's face detection software is capable of not only determining whether a person is wearing a mask, but it can also detect whether the mask is being worn properly. 

The ride-sharing company said that the software does not use any biometric data, and the photo is deleted after four days.

"In about four days, we delete the picture," Kansal said. "The reason why we keep it for four days is in case there is any issue, there is any complaint."

Uber said the new requirement will be in place by the end of the month in the United States and Canada.

Uber already rolled out the face-detection technology for drivers. In order to go online and accept fares, drivers must prove they are wearing a mask.

Photo: Getty Images