April 10 (Reuters) - Uber Technologies ( UBER ) said on

Wednesday that it is boosting its safety features for passengers

around the world, as it looks to minimize risk and ensure

security for women at night.

The features allow passengers during a ride to select up to

four safety preferences including encrypted audio recordings,

PIN verification and live location sharing.

Uber ( UBER ) has been facing scrutiny for years regarding its

responses to thousands of alleged assaults by drivers with

complaints ranging from failure to conduct proper background

checks on drivers to inadequate safety training.

The company faces a number of lawsuits from victims accusing

the ride-sharing platform of failing to prevent sexual assaults

against passengers.

The company said in 2022 it had received about 3,800 reports

of severe sexual assault in the U.S. in 2019 and 2020, down from

nearly 6,000 over the prior two years.

Uber ( UBER ) said the safety preferences are available across the

U.S., Canada and Latin America and will be expanding to more

countries in the coming weeks.