Source A

Source B (excerpt from RideNow blog introducing AudioShield)

RideNow introduced AudioShield after a series of widely shared reports about harassment during rides. AudioShield allows either the passenger or driver to record audio during a trip. The app displays a prominent on-screen indicator for both parties when recording is active. RideNow states that recordings are encrypted and stored separately from trip ratings to “reduce retaliation.” Audio is deleted automatically after seven days unless a user files a safety report linked to that trip. If a report is filed, a Trust & Safety investigator may unlock the audio for review. RideNow says it will not provide audio to employers, insurers, or advertisers, but it may comply with lawful requests from authorities. RideNow also notes that some riders may feel safer when AudioShield is available, even if they never use it.

Source C (excerpt from Statista statistics on AudioShield)

In the first three months, AudioShield was activated in 28% of rides; activation was higher at night (41%).

Safety reports per 10,000 rides fell from 9.2 to 7.1, but reports of “false accusation” disputes increased by 18%.
63% of surveyed drivers say the feature protects them; 46% say it makes riders “treat the trip like evidence.”
52% of surveyed passengers support AudioShield; 34% say they avoid recording because they do not want “more data collected.”
Trust & Safety workload increased by 22% due to requests to unlock and review recordings.

Source D (Google review)

AudioShield is presented as a compromise: “privacy protected” and “safety improved.” But the ethics hinge on what kind of society we normalize inside everyday services. When recording becomes a standard option, social trust shifts toward documentation. That may help in serious incidents, yet it also encourages suspicion as the default. Consent is also messier than the on-screen banner suggests: a rider who needs transport late at night may feel pressure to accept recording just to feel protected, while a driver may fear refusing because complaints affect their livelihood. The company’s promises (“not for advertisers”) are not the same as enforceable rights. Even with auto-delete, the system creates a new data asset that can be requested, misused, or breached. Ethical design should start with necessity and proportionality: is continuous capture the least intrusive way to achieve safety? Or is it a convenient way to appear responsive while expanding the platform’s control over disputes?

(d) To what extent is AudioShield ethically justified as a safety intervention in ride-sharing? Answer with reference to all the sources (A–D) and your own knowledge of the Digital Society course.