Grab AudioProtect is now mandatory for all trips made on Grab’s ride-hailing service. To recap, AudioProtect is a built-in safety feature that records audio during an active trip. This feature aims to prevent incidents before they happen and, if an issue occurs, provides an impartial record for fair dispute resolution for all parties involved.
In case you didn’t know, this system was introduced by Grab in 2023, but at that time it had to be activated manually by the driver for safety purposes in the event of an argument or emergency. The recorded audio will be stored and encrypted on the passenger’s device.
What Does Audio Protect Do?
AudioProtect recording commences only when a ride officially starts and ends as soon as the ride is completed. This feature is available across Grab ride services.
- Privacy & Encryption: Recorded audio files are encrypted and stored locally on your device. If no safety-related incident is detected or reported, files are automatically deleted without being uploaded to Grab’s servers.
- Access Limits: Recording files are not accessible to either party. Neither passengers nor driver-partners can listen to, download, or export recordings.
- Incident Review: Grab only retrieves full recordings strictly when a safety incident is formally reported or confirmed. Any review is conducted solely by authorised and trained members of Grab’s Safety Team for investigation purposes only.
In the absence of an emergency, this audio will be deleted after the trip is over. So, it will not be shared with Grab. A 15-second clip will be sent to Grab in the event of an incident and used as evidence to resolve issues between the passenger and driver.
How Real-Time Detection Works
- Real-time detection: During an active booking, the enhanced AudioProtect analyses audio in real time for potential emergency signals like a crash or other similar signals of distress, such as screaming or shouting.
- On-device analysis: Detection runs entirely on both parties’ phones, from the passenger or driver-partner to their own phone. There is no continuous streaming or uploads to our servers, and no one actively listens in on your ride.
- Designed for real emergencies: The system responds to a concerning sound, either on its own or alongside other high-risk trip signs such as unusual route deviations, unexpected stops, or a stalled trip. This is to help determine whether assistance is needed.
- Everyday sounds are ignored: Chatting, music, or a car horn won’t trigger anything. Most of your audio is never flagged, and the system saves its response for real emergencies rather than isolated noises.
- Minimal data is captured: Audio is uploaded to the Grab Safety System only when there’s a real reason, triggered by high-risk indicators. That includes either a concerning sound or unusual trip activity. Even then, only short clips (~15 seconds) are uploaded, covering the moments just before and after the detected risk. Nothing more.
- Designed to stay relevant: Review of short detection clips may identify areas for refinement. Where relevant, this feedback is used to fine-tune AudioProtect’s detection and help maintain its accuracy and relevance.
Grab Will Do A Safety Intervention If Needed
Notifications will also be sent to the passenger’s and driver’s phones asking if assistance is needed. This will be in the form of an in-app notification and an audio alert. On the passenger’s device. If no response is given, Grab’s safety system will contact the passenger or driver directly. Emergency assistance will be provided if needed.
This feature will be rolled out nationwide in phases starting 7 September 2026 for Driver-Partners and 17 September 2026 for Passengers.
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