Selfies lauded but privacy still concerns many

If your front camera doesn’t have a wide-angle lens, then something like a selfie-stick is often needed. Ideally, those are light, stable, can hold the phone securely and can take pictures with a Bluetooth button. — dpa

PETALING JAYA: While most drivers welcome Grab’s one-time selfie verification requirement for passengers, there is mixed reaction from passengers.

Shima Ashari, 35, from Shah Alam, said she was all for the new requirement following recent crimes involving Grab drivers or passengers.

“I agree with this move and I am willing to do it.

“Everyone wants to be safe and I think this is an effective method to prevent similar crimes from happening in the future,” she said.

The print coordinator, who takes Grab to work and to go out every day, said that she has no problem submitting her own selfie for verification.

“There are laws protecting our personal data and Grab has also made it clear that our details won’t be abused, so I’m fine with it,” she said.

Sharing Shima’s view was IT system developer Sam Tang, 45, from Subang, who often takes Grab to the airport.

“I travel quite often for work and I think it is a fair move, since we can also identify our driver through their picture and name upon booking a ride.

“I’m sure this move will make drivers feel safer when they know who they are picking up,” he said, adding that privacy is not much of a concern as long as Grab protects and uses the data properly.

“As the world moves towards digitisation, people are responsible for their own digital footprint, including how they share their personal details online.

“There is no point complaining about online privacy when their Facebook page or WhatsApp profile is open for the world to see,” said Tang.

Despite the Personal Data Protection Act, business development executive Kavitha Mohan, 29, said she has second thoughts about submitting her selfie, especially since it may not be her taking the ride.

“I often book rides for my mother and aunt. Sometimes I also book on behalf of my colleagues,” she said, adding that she hopes the requirement would not affect future bookings.

A driver who asked to be identified only as George lauded the new requirement as a step forward in protecting driver safety.

“Hopefully, with this in place, the authorities will be able to quickly track down those posing as passengers who intend to harm drivers,” said the 38-year-old, who has been picking up passengers in the Klang Valley for over a year.

George, who lives in the city, said the new requirement would not disrupt current operations.

“At present, passengers will get a picture of the driver, the type of car and its plate number.

“I believe this one-time selfie is only for registered Grab users, and it’s rather straightforward,” he said.

Lauding the new requirement, Jason Faizal, 38, however, pointed out that another concern arises when a passenger makes a booking on behalf of another who is not registered or verified.

“I would be more comfortable if the passenger who makes the booking is the one who boards my car,” he said, adding that he once had to make an extra trip to look for an old couple who were waiting at a different location than what was stated in the booking made by their daughter.

George concurred, saying that he also receives such bookings quite often, mainly from young people booking for elderly relatives, or working parents for their teenage children.

He also suggested Grab should insist on passengers using proper and identifiable names to register instead of nicknames, pseudonyms or foreign characters.

“Drivers are supposed to confirm that passengers are who they say they are by asking their names. I often get passengers who use nicknames, pseudonyms or foreign characters.

“It not necessarily has to be according to their identity card, but at least one that will help us identify,” he said, adding that he has chauffeured passengers who identified themselves as Naruto, Doraemon, Giant, Shizuka, i-Phone, Android and even God.

“When that happens, I just have to give them the benefit of the doubt,” he said.