Uber is adding a new monitoring option for teen accounts: a live video view from the driver’s front-facing phone camera while a ride is in progress. The Verge and Engadget both report that the feature is designed for parents or guardians whose accounts are linked to a teen rider’s Uber account. The feature gives the parent a broader look inside the vehicle than a call with the teen would provide, according to Engadget. When live video is available, the linked guardian receives a push notification and can start viewing with a tap. Both the driver and the teen are notified when the parent is watching, the outlets report. The rollout is still staged. Engadget says Uber is piloting the tool in nine locations: Atlanta, Phoenix, Orlando, Raleigh-Durham, Portland, San Antonio, Cleveland, Rhode Island, and El Paso. The Verge says Uber has tested it in several markets and is preparing a nationwide rollout over the next few weeks; Engadget also reports that Uber plans to make the tool available across the US in the coming weeks. The driver’s participation is part of the flow. The Verge reports that drivers who have opted in to accept underage passengers will be asked to give parents brief access to the selfie camera on their phones. Engadget adds that drivers may be prompted to mount the phone and ensure it has a clear view of the back seat. Uber is framing the feature around safety and parental visibility. The Verge notes that Uber launched teen accounts in 2023 and has already offered tools such as personal identification number verification and live Global Positioning System tracking. This update adds a video layer to those controls, but only during an active ride and only for the linked parent or guardian, according to both outlets. The privacy mechanics matter. The Verge reports that the video is encrypted and that the teen, guardian, and driver cannot access the recording after the trip ends. Engadget provides additional retention detail: Uber stores an encrypted recording, automatically deletes it after 14 days unless a safety report is submitted, and says it can use a decryption key to review a recording only when investigating an incident. The feature lands against a sensitive safety backdrop for ride-hailing. The Verge reports that Uber is facing more than 4,000 active sexual assault and misconduct lawsuits filed by passengers in state and federal courts, many involving alleged assaults by drivers. The Verge also reports that Uber says drivers must maintain top ratings and clean safety records to qualify for teen trips. This is not Uber’s first use of a driver’s front-facing camera for safety-related recording. The Verge notes that Uber also offers an optional Record My Ride feature, which uses the driver’s phone camera and microphone when manually enabled by the driver. For the new teen-account live view, the core difference is that a linked guardian can watch in real time while the ride is underway. Who benefits: Parents and guardians get another way to monitor teen rides beyond location tracking and ride-status updates. Uber may also benefit if the feature makes teen accounts more acceptable to families who remain cautious about ride-hailing for minors. Who's exposed: Drivers who accept teen trips face a new camera-access workflow and additional in-ride scrutiny. Uber is also exposed to privacy and retention questions because Engadget reports that encrypted recordings are stored for 14 days unless tied to a safety report.