Taxi app company Uber has applied for a patent to use artificial intelligence to determine how drunk potential passengers might be. The app used to summon rides could also feed other information to the driver, including a passenger's location, how accurately they are typing and even the angle they are holding their phone at.
It could help drivers who do not want to pick up inebriated riders. But critics said it could also be used to identify vulnerable passengers. According to the application to the US patent office, the system would spot "uncharacteristic user activity".
Uber does not have the best track record when it comes to collecting data. In 2014 it was revealed the company used a software program known as God View to monitor real-time locations of customers and drivers. That, coupled with a data breach that exposed personal data about more than 100,000 Uber drivers, made the company introduce tough measures to protect the privacy of drivers and customers.
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