Grab, the leading ride hailing app in Southeast Asia today announced its unique passenger verification feature that enables users to verify their identity on Grab’s app via a live selfie option. This is part of Grabs long-term safety commitment, not just to passengers, but also to their drivers. With the recent safety features that have been added to the app in recent years targeting passenger safety, it is nice to see that Grab is taking the initiative to protect its drivers as well.
In order to achieve the optimal level of safety, Grab has partnered with the ministry of Transport Malaysia to set a high bar for transportation safety standards and bring preventable incidents on its platform down to zero through technology innovations. The new feature, with went through an initial roll out early this year has actually led to a 30% decline in passenger-related crimes on the platform.
How it works is basically new passengers to the Grab platform will be required to take a selfie of themselves via the app as a form of identification. The advanced facial recognition technology now built into the Grab app will ensure that the picture taken is an actual ‘live’ human face; thus will also be able to detect and reject inappropriate photos.
“Malaysia is setting the pace for the region in many ways. Through public-private collaboration, we are working together to find innovative ways to harness technology for social good. Technology is a great enabler, it changes the way we get around and now with the support and commitment from Grab, we are seeing the safety bar being raised to roll out new, innovative solutions powered by technology that will make transportation in Malaysia safer everyday.”
Anthony Like, Minister of Transport Malaysia
Passengers can rest assured that their selfie will only be used for one time verification purposes, and like all personal data on Grab, is securely protected under Malaysia’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). The seamless enhanced verification process will be rolled out in phases over the course of the year as both Grab and the Government build to improve safeguards against crime together.
The initiative taken by both Grab and the Ministry of Transport is commendable. Over the course of the past couple of years, Grab has been taking preventive measures to ensure the safety of its passengers. Preventive measures taken include introducing initiatives such as the Share My Ride feature, the Emergency SOS button, number masking, telematics, Personal Accident Insurance and stringent driver background checks.
This is no doubt a heartening move by Grab, seeing as passenger safety normally takes precedence over driver safety. I’m sure that Grab drivers now feel a wee bit safer as they go about their day.
