I noticed that the Uber Driver app is able to get location in background without the permissions (How?)

Question

Created May ’25

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The Uber Driver app is able to get background location and there’s no way to turn it off from settings. Unlike other apps where there’s always an option to turn off background location from settings.

Is this a bug or special treatment for big companies?

this matters to me because we’re in a similar business but our app has to request background permissions, explicitly.

I am attaching both of the screenshots here for you to compare and see.

Please note that I verified personally that Uber Driver app is able to get background location.

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Answer 1

umrashrf OP

May ’25

On a second thought, this could be because Uber driver app is a navigation app. But upon looking at Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze, they all have the Always options. (Screenshots attached)

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Answer 2

umrashrf OP

May ’25

To answer the question and false accusations of one of the commenters.

I didn’t cross post for self promotion. I am genuinely interested in learning how this is working. Even if Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze don’t have this permissions so how come Uber Driver app has?

I understand the consequences for Uber if drivers could turn off background location because how could Uber then know many things like whether the driver is moving toward the customer, calculate number of kilometers and minutes while the driver is using Waze or some other navigation apps.

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Answer 3

umrashrf OP

May ’25

I just tested Waze again and it seems like that background location could be accessed if there is an active navigation.

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Answer 4

umrashrf OP

May ’25

Is HackerNews fair? Who gave simoncion flagging rights? He is clearly abusing it.

circling back to what simoncion did by flagging a legit and real post just because he dislikes it Shows there are cracks in HackerNews community leadership.

I posted this to HacketNews before going to bed and woke up by seeing that the post is on the front page. He is accusing me of using a bot farm LOL. Sounds like a sick sad miserable person who is unhappy with his life. I hope he gets better soon.

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