Uber has been grabbing headlines this week because of privacy issues concerning the app, and now, Uber is under investigation from New York's Taxi and Limousine Commission for reportedly tracking riders' whereabouts without their permission, New York Post reports.
The TLC is one of the powerful groups who are currently probing on the car-calling mobile app that came under fire after reports of violating user's privacy by tracking them without their permission.
Uber has a tool called "God View" where corporate employees can see the location of Uber Vehicles as well as riders who request a car, according to two of its former employees who revealed the information on Buzzfeed.
Josh Mohrer, Uber's New York general manager, was suspected to have tracked a BuzzFeed reporter's whereabouts earlier this month.
Mohrer is known for insulting critics as well as drivers publicly on social media web site Twitter.
He reportedly personally met with a BuzzFeed reporter outside of the company's office in Long Island City, Queens early November.
And when they got to stand in front of each other, Mohrer told the female reporter, "There you are. I was tracking you."
Though Uber did not comment on the issue, neither confirming nor denying it, several Wall Street investors as well as Senator Al Franklin himself is uncomfortable that someone or in this case, something is tracking down their location.
Franklin is the chairman of the Senate subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and Law, according to the New York Post.
Tweeps Phillips, executive director of Committee for Taxi Safety, sent a letter to TLC Commissioner Meera Joshi for dismissing the issue saying, "We are surprised both at that cavalier comment and the commissioner's attitude toward a licensee dealing with the public."
"The Taxi and Limousine Commission has a duty to protect the riding public from unsavory businesses and their shady practices," he continued, stressing that TLC should suspend Uber "until the riding public can be assured that their privacy and dta are safe."
With the Uber app downloaded on a user's smartphone to connect passengers with drivers of vehicle for hire. Customers use the app to call rides and tack their reserved vehicle's location.
