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Uber Submits Patent Application for Algorithm to Determine How Drunk Potential Passengers Are

posted by janrinok on Thursday June 14 2018, @09:53PM   Printer-friendly
from the I'll-be-walking-from-now-on dept.

takyon writes:

Uber applies for patent to spot drunk passengers

Taxi app company Uber has applied for a patent to use artificial intelligence to determine how drunk potential passengers might be.

The app used to summon rides could also feed other information to the driver, including a passenger's location, how accurately they are typing and even the angle they are holding their phone at.

It could help drivers who do not want to pick up inebriated riders.

But critics said it could also be used to identify vulnerable passengers.

According to the application to the US patent office, the system would spot "uncharacteristic user activity".

Also at The A.V. Club.

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 15 2018, @12:37AM (3 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 15 2018, @12:37AM (#693273)

    While I agree we need serious improvements when it comes to privacy, I have very little confidence in governments which themselves conduct unconstitutional mass surveillance on the populace, as the US government does.

  • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Friday June 15 2018, @01:46PM (2 children)

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Friday June 15 2018, @01:46PM (#693472) Journal

    Trust the government. The solution is government regulation. There is no problem so great it cannot be solved by adding a new government regulation. Even too much government regulation can be solved by adding more government regulation. And taxes.

    --
    The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 15 2018, @04:50PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 15 2018, @04:50PM (#693568)

      Some things do require laws.

      • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday June 18 2018, @02:43PM

        by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Monday June 18 2018, @02:43PM (#694520) Journal

        Yes. Some things do require laws. I strongly agree. There is a middle ground between don't regulate anything, and too much regulation.

        --
        The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.