Atlanta Uber driver accused of playing graphic podcast during ride

Atlanta Uber driver plays explicit podcast during ride

An 18-year-old woman and her friends are speaking out after a disturbing Uber ride in Atlanta where they say the driver played a graphic sexual podcast for the duration of their trip.

ATLANTA - An 18-year-old woman and her friends are speaking out after a disturbing Uber ride in Atlanta where they say the driver played a graphic sexual podcast for the duration of their trip.

Student records graphic Uber ride

What we know:

An 18-year-old woman says she and two friends experienced a disturbing ride following a tour of Georgia State University on Monday. The riders claim the driver played a graphic sexual podcast at a loud volume for the entire 15-minute trip.

One of the women recorded a portion of the ride on her phone out of concern. According to the riders, the podcast featured a woman moaning into a microphone while men asked her detailed questions about sexual experiences.

Family reacts to explicit audio

What they're saying:

The student's mother, Tasia Mapp, expressed shock at the level of detail in the audio. "As a married adult, I have never even heard things this explicit like what was in that audio," Mapp said.

Mapp added that she was relieved her daughter did not confront the driver during the ride. "I was just happy that she didn’t say anything because you don’t know what could have come from them speaking up and god forbid if she was in there by herself," she said.

Mapp filed a report with the Atlanta Police Department and posted her concerns on social media.

"You didn't know how old these girls were," Mapp said, addressing the driver's actions. "And you assumed that it was okay to allow this to play and giggle and laugh and even make eye contact at times. That creates a sense of insecurity."

Investigation into driver conduct

What we don't know:

It is currently unknown which specific podcast the driver was playing during the trip. While Uber stated they have taken action against the driver, they have not yet clarified if the driver was suspended or banned from the platform.

What's next:

Uber confirmed to FOX 5 that they investigated the report and took action against the driver’s account. The family also posted video of the encounter on social media, leading others in the Atlanta area to come forward with claims of similar experiences.

Why you should care:

The riders felt uncomfortable immediately upon hearing the audio and questioned why a driver would play such material with three young women in the car. One of the passengers had turned 18 just two weeks prior to the incident.

Big picture view:

Kara Phillips, an attorney representing victims of violent crimes, says that while the incident is disturbing, the driver likely won't face criminal charges. Because there was no physical touching and the riders were legal adults, the conduct may not meet the requirements of specific criminal statutes.

Phillips noted that if any of the passengers had been minors, the legal situation would be different. As it stands, she says the driver may continue to have access to passengers as long as Uber allows it.