Starting Friday in Portland, the Uber app will randomly prompt drivers to take a selfie before hitting the road. The app's software will compare that to the photo Uber has on file, and if things don't match up, the driver's account will be suspended while Uber investigates.
"Real-time ID check protects both riders and drivers," Uber said in a statement. "It prevents fraud and helps protect drivers' accounts from being compromised. It protects riders by building another layer of accountability into the app to ensure the right person is behind the wheel."
It said the feature was pilot tested over the past several months. It uses facial-recognition technology developed by Microsoft.
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