According to the permissions request dialogue, "...We [want to collect your data even after you're dropped off] to improve pickups, drop-offs, customer service and to enhance safety..."<p>I don't buy any of it. Here's why:<p>IMPROVE DROP-OFFS:
The most improved drop-off that Uber can deliver is the one I, the passenger, gives them, either verbally to the driver, via GPS by them noting the point where I was dropped off, or via GPS by me entering my destination location. Normally, I ask to be dropped off where it's most convenient for me, and the most convenient for me is the best drop-off experience possible. Even if after being dropped off, I go to a final destination for which Uber reckons a better drop-off point than the one I chose exists, it's not for Uber to say, based on where I am going, what my best drop off point is. That's for me, the customer, to say. Since when does a cab tell you where to drop you off? Unless I don't know where I am going, in which case Uber already knows what the best drop off point is, and has no need to further improve it.<p>IMPROVE PICKUPS.
Presumably, the pickup will be improved based on historical location data, which tells them, this guy actually goes/lives/drinks/et here, something we know coz we tracked him last time he used Uber. Again, when I board a cab, I go to the point of most convenience for me. I'd probably have a cab come right to my bedroom door inside my house if it were possible, but since it's not, I choose the next best possible point, which is normally the same place they dropped me off at if they're the ones who brought me here. Same argument applies: unless I'm a stranger, my choice of pickup point is the best pickup point experience possible, and needs no further improvement. If based on where I'm coming from, Uber reckon there's a better pickup point, it's not for them to say. They're a cab. A cab comes get you where you want it to come get you, the location of your bedroom door and other laws and issues permitting.<p>CUSTOMER SERVICE:
This sounds tenuous. Nothing that I can think of that can be termed as good customer service from a cab company would be improved by tracking my movement after the cab has dropped me off. Some good customer service issues have nothing to do with my location, and the two that do are the ones I've discussed above.<p>ENHANCE SAFETY.
Again, tenuous without more explanation. How does knowing where I go after you drop me off enhance safety either for myself or the driver?<p>I've seen a comment from some who says they work at Uber saying that this helps to figure out where the pick up spots for each address are, that a large building may have multiple points where people get picked up or dropped off. Which sounds reasonable, until you realize that the point that I got dropped off is the best one for me, which is why I chose it, and you, Uber, already know that because you've just dropped me off. Tracking me AFTER dropping me off doesn't make your knowledge of my best drop off more accurate, it makes it less accurate since I'm moving further and further away from the best drop off point as you continue to track me.