A Kerala woman has accused an Uber driver of harassing her by sending messages on WhatsApp. In a post on X, Smriti Kannan shared screenshots of her conversation with the driver, who allegedly contacted her after the ride ended.
The driver asked Ms Kannan if she remembered him and asked about the perfume she used, after which she blocked him. Sharing screenshots of the conversation on X, Ms Kannan wrote, "WHAT THE F**K @Uber_India how bad are your privacy settings? An Uber driver messages me on WhatsApp and asks me creepy questions. Seriously how safe are women???"
Since being shared, the post went viral, with many questioning the cab aggregator for its privacy policies and how the driver could get the number.
In a statement, Uber has said that phone numbers for riders and drivers are anonymised on all trips and, in this instance, the driver accessed the phone number through the UPI app used for payment. The company said the driver's access to the platform has been terminated.
A person wrote, "That's absolutely unacceptable. Passenger privacy and safety should be non-negotiable. @Uber_India needs to address this immediately, enforce stricter policies, and ensure such breaches never happen. Women's safety isn't optional—it's a fundamental right."
Another added, "Pls file a police complaint. This is sick."
"@Uber_India has hired maximum creeps. I have stopped using it. It's almost like they have reservations for perverts in their company," read a comment.
"It's so disturbing. These drivers know our locations too," remarked a user.
An Uber spokesperson clarified that a driver cannot access a rider's number through the app.
"Phone numbers for riders and drivers are anonymised on all Uber trips and the number can not be accessed through the Uber platform. In this case, the driver accessed the rider's number through the UPI app used for payment. Uber strictly prohibits post-trip contact, and as this violates our community guidelines, the driver's access to our platform has been revoked," the spokesperson said.
Earlier, Nidhi Tara, a communication strategist, had shared her terrifying experience with an Uber driver in Karnataka's Mysuru. In a LinkedIn post, Ms Tara claimed that after booking a ride, the driver got aggressive and demanded an additional Rs 2,500 beyond the agreed-upon fare. When she refused, he became hostile and threatened her family. Fortunately, bystanders intervened, prompting him to leave the scene.
In her post, she urged authorities to take immediate action and safeguard families from similar harassment.
