Testing self-driving cars in California, Uber argued that it did not need a permit because it had human drivers at the wheel. California authorities disagreed, and the DMV revoked registration of Uber’s self-driving cars, forcing Uber to suspend tests.
Refused to honor taxi strike protesting Trump travel ban
When taxi drivers at JFK Airport went on strike to protest President Trump’s travel ban targeting seven Muslim-majority countries, Uber continued service. While Uber claimed that continued service would assist passengers in completing their journeys, critics saw Uber profiteering and failing to honor an important principle.
Criticism was sharpened because Uber CEO Travis Kalanick at the time served as a strategic advisor to Trump, suggesting that he supported the travel ban or Trump’s policies more generally. (Kalanick later stepped down from that advisory role.)
Obtained medical records of a customer
After an unnamed customer reported being raped by an Uber driver in India in December 2014, Uber executive Eric Alexander obtained her medical records and showed them to CEO Travis Kalanick and SVP Emil Michael. As of June 2017, Alexander had left Uber.
In a June 2017 lawsuit, the customer filed a lawsuit against Uber as well as Alexander, Kalanick, and Michael for intrusion into private affairs, public disclosure of private facts, and defamation. In addition to noting the impropriety of Uber managers obtaining and examining her medical records without her consent, she flagged the inconsistency between Uber’s public claims (“We will do everything … to help bring this perpetrator to justice and to support the victim”) and its actual action.
Left Austin rather than follow the law
Austin, Texas, voters in May 2016 chose to retain an ordinance that required fingerprinting of Uber’s drivers, among other regulations. Rather than comply, Uber and Lyft ceased operations in Austin, leaving a void filled by smaller competitors.
Drivers failed more rigorous government background checks
When Massachusetts ran its own background checks of Uber drivers, it found more than 8,000 violations ranging from license suspensions to violent crimes and sexual offenses.
Operating without licenses required by applicable governments
Refused to provide documents when ordered by an administrative law judge
“Knowing and intentional” “obstructive” “recalcitrance” in its “blatant,” “egregious,” “defiant refusal” to produce documents and records when so ordered by administrative law judges.
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement v. Uber Technologies, Inc., et al., Initial Decision, November 17, 2015. C-2014-2422723.
Underpaid New York drivers
By retaining commissions 2.6% beyond the amount specified in the applicable contract, Uber underpaid drivers in New York. Jim Conigliaro, founder of the Independent Drivers’ Guild, called Uber’s actions “theft.” Engadget reported that the amount averaged $900 per driver, yielding a total overcharge of more than $40 million.
2015 contract revisions indicate that Uber knew it was wrongly taking commission on gross fares, thereby overcharging drivers, though the company denied that allegation.
Managers taken into custody for running an illegal taxi company
When Uber operated in Paris in violation of applicable law, Uber France CEO Thibaud Simphal and Uber Europe GM Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty were both arrested. Details.
Continued operation when ordered to cease
In multiple cities, Uber continued operation despite duly-empowered regulators ordering it to cease.
For example, in litigation, the City of San Francisco and City of Los Angeles reported a 2010 incident in which the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency noted that Uber’s system for “measure[ing] time and distance” had not been submitted to appropriate regulators for testing and approval, contrary to applicable law. Four years later, Uber had still not done so and, the cities alleged, was in violation of the law each time it used its unapproved technology.
More details coming soon.