Uber security: Exclusive I-Team tour

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The ABC7 I-Team is inspecting the safety and security of Uber and has an exclusive look into how the ride-sharing company runs background checks on their prospective drivers. [br /][br /]An UberX ride can save you a lot of money when compared to a cab, but you may be skeptical about how those drivers are vetted. In recent months some of them locally and worldwide have been accused of sexual assault.[br /][br /]UberX managers provided exclusive access to their background checks and the I-Team asked how they're really keep passengers safe.[br /][br /]When you get into an UberX, you may be wondering who's driving you around. Those drivers don't have chauffeur licenses like limo and cab drivers, who are required to pass Chicago Police Department fingerprint checks, a red light camera and speed camera history report, a drug test, physical and license verification. So what about those UberX drivers?[br /][br /]"The city of Chicago's ride share ordinance only requires we go back five years but we go back seven years which is the maximum allowable by the Fair Credit Reporting Act," said Chris Taylor, Uber Illinois General Manager.[br /][br /]The I-Team got an exclusive look into its background checks. They can either start through an online application or in person at the Partner Support Center in the West Loop.[br /][br /]They dug into the history of people like Guillermina Perez, an UberX driver who has already been approved, but Uber recreated her hiring process for the I-Team. She had an in-person orientation and consultation with an Uber staff member. Other potential drivers also went through a similar process. Their information is run through a "Uber portal," which feeds to a centralized security team in North Carolina. They work with a third party background check company, Hirease. [br /][br /]They check criminal records at local, state and federal levels and check the national sex offender registry. Uber also requires valid insurance, vehicle registration and a license. Uber also points out that its GPS electronic trail reinforces security.[br /][br /]"Uber is a terrible place to commit a crime. We know where people were, we know who's involved," Taylor said. "We have a lot of data that we have a duty to protect for privacy reasons police have a process where they can submit a subpoena and we can reply."[br /][br /]Uber says it worked with police after two of its Chicago drivers were accused of sexually assaulting passengers in separate incidents. One of them, 33-year-old Maxime Fohounhedo, [url HREF="http://abc7.ws/1zml8Q8" TARGET="" REL=""]pleaded not guilty[/url]. His wife and his defense attorney told the I-team that if anything happened, it was consensual, after being charged in the sexual assault of a female passenger. Uber had originally told the I-Team that he was taken off the platform when allegations surfaced in November, but then in December, prosecutors said he was never on the system, and was [url HREF="http://abc7.ws/1AgID0t" TARGET="" REL=""]accused of sharing his wife's profile[/url].[br /][br /]"I think it gets back to the feedback system, right, we have this very strong feedback," said Phillip Cardenas, Global Security.[br /][br /]Cardenas admits that riders need to use that feedback system to report drivers and proactively match up license plate and driver profile pictures. Many passenger compliments and complaints are read within 30 minutes at another West Loop office, which houses Chicago's operations team.[br /][br /]"I tend to think, 'Who would I feel comfortable with driving my wife and driving my son?' and I think of our background checks as providing that piece of mind," Cardenas said.[br /][br /]And what about applicants from other countries?[br /][br /]"We don't allow those people to be on the system unless they have a substantial record within the United States," said Cardenas.[br /][br /]Uber maintains that it is catching the overwhelming majority of wrongdoers. In fact, Uber says, in Chicago alone, it's rejected thousands of drivers.[br /][br /]Uber says some of those who have been rejected are currently licensed Chicago taxi and limo drivers. The city says it has no proof of that Uber claim.[br /][br /]In addition, Mika Stambaugh, director of public information at the City of Chicago's Business Affairs and Consumer Protection said: "As a condition of licensing, Uber has agreed to implement safety standards to go above and beyond the Transportation Network Provider (TNP) ordinance. Sharing driver information is one part of that agreement. The City of Chicago has a strict set of requirements every applicant must meet in order to become a licensed public chauffeur. The City's standards are set high to ensure the safety of all residents and visitors, which is our first priority. We will continue to work with all licensed rideshare companies to ensure they are establishing safety standards that protect the riders, their drivers and the public at large."[br /][br /]Uber recently [url HREF="http://abc7.ws/1Do43M1" TARGET="" REL=""]announced it is launching an "SOS" button[/url] in its app. It's already started in India where there have been more reports of sexual assaults.[br /][br /]That SOS button may eventually come to Chicago.[br /][br /]In January, Uber announced that trained security specialists, including off duty officers, would conduct monthly audits and inspections on Uber drivers.[br /][br /]/]