Uber Launches Selfie Feature for Cash Payments in Jamaica

International ride-hailing company, Uber, has introduced new safety measures for users in Jamaica.

In a statement on Thursday, Uber said new users registering with the cash payment methods will have to validate their identity through a selfie for the first trip. The new feature will work in tandem with existing options for credit and debit cards.

The company says the selfie method will record the image of the person making the request. The image will be stored on Uber’s servers and will only be shared with authorities, not Uber drivers.

The company is also launching a new tool that will allow users to personalise some safety features.

The company says among the options available are sharing your trip automatically with trusted contacts or after specific times of the day.

Uber says the new features are part of a suite of more than 30 measures already available in Jamaica. Among them are PIN codes, ride checks and insured trips.

The company says the new options are a ‘result of listening to users and lessor partners’.

From Uber:

To configure safety preferences:

1. In the ‘Account’ tab, scroll to Settings, Security, and then ‘Safety Preferences’.
2. To configure during a lease, open the blue shield that appears on the map, enter Settings, and then ‘Safety Preferences’.