The ride-hailing company Uber is launching a new safety feature in Columbia that will make it possible for riders and drivers to record audio of their journeys. 

The function will be enabled through the app's Safety Toolkit. Users will need to tap the blue shield icon on the map screen and then hit "Start" on the "Record Audio" option whenever they want to begin or stop an audio recording while they are on a trip. In the event that the user does not manually pause the recording, the app will do so for them shortly after the journey is finished recording.

Once the recording is finished, it will be saved directly on the user's device. This will be the only location from which the user will be able to access the file. If a safety report is filed with Uber, an encrypted audio file can be attached. This information, along with any other relevant incident data, will be used to determine the most effective next steps. The feature's goals are to provide riders and drivers with reassurance and to assist in the development of interactions that are more pleasant while traveling.

Uber is increasing the availability of this safety tool in more cities across the United States, and the company has placed a priority on protecting users' privacy and safety while developing the feature. 

According to Uttara Sivaram, who is the head of Privacy and Security Public Policy, "From the very beginning, our goal was to design this feature in a way that keeps the recordings secure and protects the privacy of all parties involved."