Uber Job Applicant Gets Full Access To Customer Records

The Washington Post reports that an Uber job applicant was granted full access to customer records after being interviewed last year at the Washington D.C. office.

The applicant had access to see travel records of anyone – including family members of politicians. Access was time-limited, lasting “several hours” after the interview was conducted.

Uber released a statement saying that data access is limited to “legitimate business purposes,” and their database is closely monitored and examined by security specialists. All violations against their privacy policy will “result in disciplinary action, including the possibility of termination and legal action.”

This isn’t the first time the ridesharing service has been in questionable circumstances. Just recently, Uber executive, Emil Michael, suggested using a team of “opposition researchers” and $1 million to dig up dirt on journalists. Josh Mohrer, general manager of Uber in New York, was accused of using the company’s tool to track a journalist’s travel history.

An Uber job applicant getting access to customer travel records has raised concern about how the company protects user data. They refuse to speak to the media about the issue, saying “As a matter of security, we don’t discuss publicly the details of our security.”

Uber has become a very popular transportation service, allowing customers to use the smartphone app to request a ride from a driver. Even the politicians are using the service. More than 60 percent of rides during the mid-term Congressional campaigns were done through Uber services. The Post notes that such sensitive information could “be handy for a foreign power eager to map the relationships among various Washington players.”

The car service has been gaining popularity since their launch in 2009, especially among cab drivers. In 2013, a cab driver’s salary hovered around $30,000. In New York City, Uber drivers working 40 hours a week brought home around $90,766 a year. This salary does not include the cost of vehicle upkeep drivers are responsible for, but the compensation gap is still huge.

Some people fear that an Uber job applicant gaining access to customer data means an experienced hacker could easily break into the system. Cyber-Security expert, James Lewis says that riders using the ridesharing service can disguise their location by having the driver drop them off a block away from their destination.

BONUS: Check out this hilarious video of Jimmy Kimmel being an Uber driver.