Uber launches an optional safety feature allowing parents or guardians to watch a livestream of their teen's ride via the driver's front-facing phone camera (Natalie Lung/Bloomberg)

Uber has announced the launch of a live video streaming feature designed for parents to monitor their teen children's safety during rides. This new functionality is set to be available nationwide across the U.S. in the coming weeks. The feature utilizes the driver's selfie camera to provide a real-time video feed. Once a ride commences, a notification will be sent to the parent or guardian account if the video stream is accessible.

Upon deciding to view the stream, both the driver and the teen will be alerted. However, access to the live stream is exclusively granted to the parent or guardian's account associated with the teen's Uber account. There is no provision for others, such as additional travelers, to avoid being captured on the live feed. After the ride concludes, the video recording is inaccessible to anyone, including the driver, the teen, or the parent or guardian.

While Uber claims the video is "encrypted," the company has not clarified whether it is end-to-end encrypted, which would prevent Uber from accessing the recording. Currently, the feature is operational in nine markets, including Atlanta, Cleveland, and Rhode Island, and will soon be available across all of the United States. Uber introduced teen accounts in the U.S. in 2023, and since then, the feature has been expanded to over 50 countries.