#Uber to require rule-breaking passengers to take mask selfie

Some Uber passengers will soon be required to snap a selfie with their mask on in order to hail a ride through the app.

The new rule applies to riders who’ve previously refused to wear a face-covering on their Uber ride, which is required for all drivers and passengers, the company announced Tuesday.

The ride-share app’s mask verification feature will roll out in the US and Canada by the end of September and is similar to one already used by drivers.

“We firmly believe that accountability is a two-way street. That’s why we’re expanding the same technology to riders, too,” Uber said.

“As with the driver mask verification tool, this technology detects the mask as an object in the photo and does not process biometric information.”

Riders who are not wearing a mask will not be allowed to take the ride, Sachin Kansal, Uber’s senior director of product management, told ABC News.

“If we do have people who are still violating the policy, we want to be able to verify them with an extra step,” Kansal said.

The selfies will be stored by Uber for a few days.

“In about four days we delete the picture,” said Kansal. “The reason why we keep it for four days is in case there is any issue, there is any complaint.”

Some riders and drivers who refuse to wear masks have been banned altogether from the platform.

“If we find that riders or drivers have been in violation of the policy, we will first educate them,” Kansal said.

“We will send them emails. We want to make sure that they actually understand what the policy is. But if we see repeat violation, then we can take further action, including taking them off the platform.”