In an effort to protect the privacy of people using a ride-hailing service, researchers from Lausanne University and the Swiss Federal Polytechnic Institute are using cryptography to encrypt data. ORide -- or Oblivious Ride -- is a prototype software that prevents ride-share companies from seeing where passengers have been.
Described as "a privacy-preserving yet accountable ride-hailing service," ORide addresses the criticism of brands like Uber and Lyft and their data collection practices. This alternative allows people to catch a ride without having to share their location data. Still in development, the encryption system aims to deliver all the convenience and features people expect from on-demand car-catching services (like reputation scores, lost item retrieval and easy payments) while protecting sensitive information using novel cryptography techniques.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Privacy-preserving Ride-hailing
- Developing ride-hailing services that use cryptography to encrypt data, protecting the privacy of users and preventing companies from tracking passenger locations.
- Accountable Ride-hailing
- Creating encrypted ride-hailing platforms that offer convenience and features like reputation scores, lost item retrieval, and easy payments, while ensuring the accountability of drivers and maintaining user privacy.
- Data Protection in Transportation
- Exploring novel cryptography techniques to secure sensitive user information in on-demand car-catching services and address concerns regarding data collection practices.
Sectors Adopting This
- Ride-hailing
- Incorporating encryption technologies into ride-hailing services to enhance customer privacy and address data security concerns.
- Cybersecurity
- Leveraging cryptography techniques and advancements in cybersecurity to develop encryption systems that protect sensitive user data in various industries, including transportation.
- Data Privacy
- Developing innovative solutions and technologies to safeguard user privacy and address data collection challenges faced by companies in the transportation sector.
