This Act mandates that ride-sharing companies must register driver cameras, notify passengers, and provide an in-app option for passengers to opt out of rides with recording vehicles.
Marsha Blackburn
Senator
TN
The Safe and Private Rides Act establishes clear rules for ride-sharing companies regarding cameras in drivers' vehicles. This legislation mandates that drivers must register cameras, and companies must notify passengers and provide an easy in-app option to opt out of riding in vehicles equipped with recording devices. Furthermore, the bill strictly limits how long ride-sharing companies can retain passenger video recordings. Violations of these new requirements will be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
New Act Mandates Camera Opt-Out for Ride-Shares, Gives Passengers Control Over In-Car Recording
The new Safe and Private Rides Act is pretty straightforward: it tackles the cameras many ride-share drivers use to record passengers. If you use apps like Uber or Lyft, this bill mandates that if a driver has a camera recording the passenger area, the driver must register it with the company. Crucially, the ride-sharing company must then notify you before you get in the car and give you an easy way to opt out of that ride altogether. All these rules kick in 180 days after the law is enacted.
Your Right to Say 'No' to the Camera
This bill is all about transparency and control when you book a ride. Think of it this way: right now, you might hop into a car and realize too late that you’re being recorded. Under this Act (Sec. 2), the app has to clearly show you if a camera is present when you book the ride. More than that, the company must provide a separate, easy-to-find setting that lets you opt out of riding in any camera-equipped vehicle. This isn’t a one-time thing; you can change your mind anytime, and the company can’t assume you’ve revoked consent based on vague app behavior. If you’re a parent traveling with kids or just someone who values privacy, this gives you the power to choose your ride environment before the car even pulls up.
Shutting Down the Data Hoarders
For anyone worried about video footage of their commute or late-night ride floating around forever, this bill offers some relief. Ride-sharing companies can’t just keep passenger video recordings indefinitely (Sec. 2). They are only allowed to retain the footage if it is “absolutely necessary” for specific, limited reasons, such as reporting a crime, handling an insurance claim, or checking if the driver broke company rules. This provision aims to prevent companies from becoming massive repositories of private video data, limiting retention to situations where the footage is genuinely needed for safety or compliance issues.
The Enforcement Catch
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the designated referee here, treating any violation of these new rules—like a company failing to notify you about a camera or ignoring your opt-out request—as an unfair or deceptive business practice (Sec. 2). This gives the rules real teeth, as the FTC has broad powers to investigate and penalize companies. However, there’s a small detail worth noting: the bill offers a liability shield for the ride-sharing company. If the company follows all the rules about registration and notification, they won't be held legally responsible if a driver later breaks the rules. This means if you opt out of a camera-equipped car but a driver who didn’t register their camera still records you, you might have to go after the driver directly, even though the company is responsible for setting up the system.