inDrive Launches In-App Audio Recording Feature to Boost Ride Safety in SA

• e-Hailing platform inDrive has launched a new encrypted, in-app audio recording feature for users across South Africa
• The safety tool allows both drivers and passengers to record trips manually to deter bad behaviour and resolve disputes
• All recordings are heavily encrypted and can only be accessed by the platform's security team during an official investigation
• Briefly News spoke with veteran e-hailing driver Jonathan Musinda to get his thoughts on inDrive's newly launched in-app audio recording feature

Amid growing passenger safety concerns, ride-hailing platform inDrive has officially rolled out a new in-app audio recording feature. Available within the application's Safety Centre, the tool allows both drivers and passengers to activate audio recording during a ride. The initiative aims to enhance transparency, support fair dispute resolutions and encourage respectful behaviour between both parties.

Enhancing security on the road

According to Ashif Black, inDrive’s Country Representative for South Africa, the feature functions as a preventative and de-escalation tool for everyday misunderstandings, such as pickup confusion or route disagreements. Ashif noted that the option to record naturally encourages more mindful interactions and reinforces mutual respect.

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Preventing everyday misunderstandings

Privacy and data protection remain central to the feature's layout. All captured audio is fully end-to-end encrypted, meaning neither the passenger nor the driver can download, save, or listen to the recording afterwards. The encryption key is held exclusively by inDrive's dedicated security team, and the data is only decrypted if a formal complaint is submitted and explicit consent is granted by the user. Furthermore, the feature cannot be run covertly in the background and requires intentional, manual activation. The safety feature is officially live and accessible to all South African users on the latest version of the inDrive mobile application.

Audio logs and the battle for safety on the road

We spoke with Jonathan to discuss how this proposed digital safety tool could affect the daily experiences and security of local e-hailing drivers.

The team asked for his view about inDrive’s recently launched audio recording feature. He responded:

“It is a welcome safety tool. Having an official record will quickly resolve passenger-driver disputes.”

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When asked if he is not concerned about his privacy with these recordings, Jonathan said:

“No, because they are encrypted. Only the support team can access them if a complaint is made.”

5 Briefly News e-hailing- related articles

• The South African Department of Transport (DoT) has formalised new public transport safety laws targeting digital e-hailing services like Uber and Bolt.
• A woman whose phone was robbed in the V&A Waterfront, in Cape Town, managed to track down her robbers with the help of the police and got them arrested.
• A dashcam recorded an e-hailing driver's near-death experience after picking up commuters who robbed him at gunpoint, shocking many social media users.
• A lively commuter serenaded her e-hailing driver with her beautiful voice during a trip, leaving social media users to joke that the man would catch feelings.
• A video shared by a TikTok user showed an e-hailing driver rejecting an R3 payment from a passenger who received a promotion deal.

Source: Briefly News