Mask selfies for rideshare drivers

Rideshare firms like Ola, Uber and Zoomy must have drivers in face coverings under a government ruling that masks are mandatory for such services and on public transport during COVID-19 level 2 restrictions.

COVID-19 contact tracing QR codes should also be in rideshare vehicles as well.

Ola has launched ‘Selfie Authentication’ technology to ensure its drivers are wearing masks in countries like New Zealand where it is mandatory.

Drivers are prompted to periodically take a real-time selfie with their mask on before being able to accept further rides.

The selfie is then digitally analysed to detect if the driver is wearing a mask and confirm they are a registered driver in the system.

The ‘Mask Selfie’ feature will be rolled out across New Zealand this week, following the guidelines issued by the government which have mandated wearing of masks and face coverings for rideshare drivers.

“We want both riders and drivers to be able to travel with the highest levels of safety at all times,” Ola New Zealand managing director Brian Dewil says.

“Our Selfie Authentication technology will allow us to regularly check up on our drivers and prevent those who are using the platform incorrectly, from taking rides.”

Ola has established Ola Electric in its home country India to get about a million EVs operating there.

It’s unknown how many EVs are in the New Zealand rideshare scheme.

Meanwhile, Uber has announced its Face Cover Check technology, including a “mask selfie” will be running in its app here to help confirm driver-partners are wearing a face cover or a mask before they can start driving with the app.

Passengers receive a notification in the app the driver-partner has passed the verification process.

Uber also strongly encourages Kiwi riders to wear a mask when travelling with it as well.

Before a driver-partner can go online, they will be asked to confirm that they’ve taken certain safety measures such as sanitising touchpoints in the vehicle and that they are wearing a mask or face cover, Uber says.

Uber New Zealand says it’s also providing information to driver-partners on how to access QR codes for contact tracing to display in their vehicles from September 3.