Bolt vs Uber

Bolt collects a broad set of data including trip history, precise location, device identifiers, messages, ratings, and information from partners or public sources. This creates a detailed profile of rider behavior and movements.

Identity checks may involve selfies, ID documents, facial recognition, and facial measurements, with suspension possible during verification. Even with consent and manual review, this is sensitive processing with real service consequences.

Bolt shares data with group companies, drivers, business clients, insurers, service providers, authorities, and during corporate changes. That broad sharing increases the number of entities handling rider data.

Users can request access, correction, deletion, restriction, portability, and objection, and can withdraw consent and complain to regulators. This gives riders meaningful control under data protection law.

Drivers can view your name, phone number in some cases, pickup and destination, and your average rating, and some details remain visible after the ride. This is operationally useful but increases exposure of personal information to individual drivers.

Bolt uses cookies, SDKs, analytics tools, pixels, and advertising IDs, and may share data for personalised ads and campaign measurement. Users should expect marketing profiling unless they opt out where available.

Some personal data may be retained for long periods, including 10 years for tax records and 3 years for support data. That limits how quickly users can expect complete erasure of their records.

Background location, calendar access, some analytics, and some marketing features require consent, and that consent can later be withdrawn. This is better than bundling all tracking into mandatory use.

If asked to verify identity with selfie and facial recognition, users can request manual review instead. That reduces the risk of being forced into fully automated biometric verification.

Bolt says it may transfer personal data outside the user’s country using adequacy decisions, standard contractual clauses, or legal exceptions, while storing service data in EEA data centers. This is common, but still relevant for users concerned about jurisdictional exposure.

Bolt gives concrete examples of retention periods, which improves predictability for users. Specific timelines are disclosed for tax, support, messages, and audio data rather than using only vague language.

Uber shares data with affiliates, service providers, ad partners, and other parties when needed for operations, advertising, and analytics. Practically, this means your data may be used beyond core ride/delivery fulfillment.

Uber uses data for marketing and advertising and shares identifiers and related data with ad intermediaries and social platforms. Users can opt out of some ad personalization, but ad-related processing is built into the service.

Uber retains account data for the life of the account and many categories for up to 7 years, even after account deletion in some cases. That is a substantial retention period for a transport/delivery platform.

Uber can temporarily restrict or terminate access for suspected violations, fraud concerns, payment failure, or safety reasons, sometimes with immediate effect. For users, that means account access can be interrupted before a dispute is fully resolved.

You can request account deletion through the app or website, which is a meaningful control over your data. Uber says it generally deletes data within 90 days of a deletion request, subject to retention exceptions.

Uber relies on automated processes for matching, pricing, and fraud detection, including location, availability, traffic, and historical data. This can affect who you are matched with and how much you pay without manual review at the point of decision.

Once a request is accepted, cancellation is often not available, and cancellation fees may apply when Uber or a third party allows cancellation. That limits flexibility compared with services that permit easy no-cost cancellation.

Uber lets you access profile and trip/order history and download a copy of requested data. That makes it easier to review what Uber holds and to move your information elsewhere.

For French consumer disputes, Uber says you can use a free mediator without first having to go through mandatory mediation. This gives you an extra route before court for unresolved consumer issues.

Uber states that nothing in the terms limits statutory consumer rights, and it specifically says it guarantees proper performance for certain booked transport services in France. That is better than a blanket disclaimer of responsibility.