Safe and Private Rides Act
The Safe and Private Rides Act would require transportation network companies (TNCs) like ride-hailing platforms to address in-vehicle cameras in cars used by their drivers. Specifically, it would force TNCs to have drivers register any cameras in their vehicles that record passengers, notify riders about those cameras, and provide riders with a clear option to opt out of riding in a camera-equipped vehicle. The bill also sets standards for how opt-out choices must be presented and managed, limits how long and how recordings can be kept or shared, and creates a mechanism for reporting violations. Enforcement would be handled by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as an unfair or deceptive practice, with liability protections for compliant TNCs. The act takes effect 180 days after enactment and defines key terms (such as “motor vehicle” and “transportation network company”) while excluding certain non-traditional services like carpool or microtransit arrangements. In short, the bill aims to increase rider privacy by making cameras visible, giving riders a real opt-out choice, restricting data retention, and enabling FTC-led enforcement against noncompliant firms.
Key Points
- 1Registration and notice requirements: Each driver must register any passenger-recording camera with the TNC, and the company must notify passengers about all registered cameras and establish a process to address violations.
- 2Opt-out rights and presentation: Riders must be given a clear, easily accessible opt-out option within the app, independent from terms of service, with an affirmative action required to show consent revocation.
- 3Data handling restrictions: TNCs may not retain or transfer passenger recordings except as needed to report crime, for insurance purposes, or to determine compliance with the company’s terms of service.
- 4Enforcement and liability: Violations are treated as unfair or deceptive practices under FTC rules; the FTC enforces the act similarly to its other authority, and compliant TNCs receive liability protections.
- 5Effective date and definitions: The act becomes effective 180 days after enactment; it provides definitions for the Commission (FTC), motor vehicle, and transportation network company, and excludes certain ride-sharing arrangements (e.g., non-profit carpool, microtransit for government or certain organizations).