Steps down from Trump advisory board
Kalanick steps down from President Trump’s economic advisory group after criticism from his staff and the public. Kalanick:
Joining the group was not meant to be an endorsement of the President or his agenda but unfortunately it has been misinterpreted to be exactly that. Earlier today I spoke briefly with the president about the immigration executive order and its issues for our community. The implicit assumption that Uber (or I) was somehow endorsing the Administration’s agenda has created a perception-reality gap between who people think we are, and who we actually are.
Launches in three cities
After a pilot program in New York, Uber makes UberRUSH an official part of the company, and expands the service to Chicago and San Francisco. The company delivers items like groceries, take-out food, and house supplies, and competes with Postmates.
In hundreds of cities across the globe, you can press a button and get a ride in minutes. Now, through UberRUSH, business owners can use that same technology to get customers pretty much anything in minutes.
Data breach exposes licenses, IRS details
Uber’s Uber Partner app is found to inadvertently give anyone access to scanned documents for almost 1,000 drivers. The material includes high-resolution pictures of drivers licenses, W-9 tax forms, livery car company articles of incorporation, and other sensitive personal documents—many of which contain social security numbers. Uber:
As soon as we were made aware of this we immediately fixed it.
Rio mayor bans Uber
Rio de Janeiro’s Mayor Paes signs a bill banning Uber. Uber has over 5,000 drivers and 500,000 users since launching in Brazil a year ago, and aggression by politicians and taxi drivers has been mounting. To celebrate the signing, Paes drives around in a taxi picking up random passengers. Paes:
I can’t drive Uber, it’s illegal.
Uber:
To please taxi owners, Mayor Paes sanctioned a completely unconstitutional law that is trying to ban technology from the city, leaving cariocas with less options to get around. We are now looking at appropriate legal measures. Uber believes that the service our partner drivers provides is completely legal and supported by federal law.
Moonlights as Uber driver
Francis signs up to become an Uber driver.
https://twitter.com/AJFrancis410/status/591032899081764864
https://twitter.com/AJFrancis410/status/591033418378563585
Uber driver shoots gunman
A unnamed Uber driver, who had a concealed-carry gun license, fires six shots, wounding 22-year-old Everardo Custodio, who had pulled a handgun out and started firing at the crowd of people walking in Chicago at midnight. It is still unknown whether Custodio he was trying to target any one person. Responding officers found Custodio lying on the ground, bleeding, Quinn said. No other injuries were reported. No charges are filed against the driver.
Sets up response teams
As concern increases over the security of its passengers and drivers, Uber is taking measures to address safety concerns. This includes forming round-the-clock response teams that consist of specially trained groups who will investigate safety issues. Uber is also forming a safety advisory board comprised of independent experts who will review Uber’s practices and who will advise on adding safety features. In addition, the background-check standards of Uber’s drivers are being elevated. The company has also established a new code of conduct.
NYC suspends Uber bases
0 CommentsNew York City suspends five of six Uber bases after Uber refuses to give the Taxi and Limousine Commission its ride records. Uber statement:
Uber continues to operate legally in New York City, with tens of thousands of partner drivers and hundreds of thousands of riders relying on the Uber platform for economic opportunity and safe, reliable rides. We are continuing a dialogue with the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission on these issues.
Claims sexual harassment by driver
Williams claims she was sexually harassed by her Uber driver in her driveway. Uber suspends the driver. Williams tweets:
Just reported my Uber driver for sexual Harrassment. He tried to grab & kiss on me in my own driveway. Fought him off and ran inside. #WTF
— Nikki Williams (@nikkiwilliams) December 20, 2014
Kaitlin Darkish, an Uber spokesperson:
Uber has zero tolerance for this behavior, and we apologize to Ms. Williams for this terrible experience. We immediately deactivated the driver, and have begun an investigation.
Seeks to patent surge pricing
0 CommentsUber has filed at least 13 patent applications, one of which seeks to protect and patent its surge pricing technology. The system measures supply and demand and prices fares accordingly. Ten of the applications have been rejected but surge pricing is still in process. John Martin, chief executive officer of Innography Inc., an Austin, Texas-based maker of software to analyze patent portfolios:
Cabs have been around for centuries. What is new, and what they’re trying to capture around some of their filings, is the arrangement between the rider and the car.
Driver charged with rape and kidnapping
0 CommentsAlejandro Done is charged with rape, kidnapping and other charges for allegedly strangling and sexually assaulting a woman after picking her up in Boston and presenting himself as the Uber driver. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan:
This alleged predator took advantage of a young woman who trusted that he was who he portrayed himself to be and exploited her vulnerability once he had her in his car.
Caps surge pricing during crisis
0 CommentsUber caps the surge pricing during the Sydney hostage crisis, saying the surge pricing model is automated, based on demand. Rides are free for passengers but paid out to the drivers at surge rates.
https://twitter.com/Uber_Sydney/status/544329935943237632
Sydney hostage crisis surge pricing
0 CommentsUber activates their surge pricing during the Sydney, Australia hostage crisis ostensibly in an effort to encourage more drivers onto the road.
https://twitter.com/Uber_Sydney/status/544319760809222144
Removes driver accused of sexual assault
0 CommentsUber removes one of its drivers in Chicago following allegations of sexual assault. Chicago police are investigating the incident. Uber spokeswoman Jennifer Mullin:
This is an appalling and unacceptable incident, and first and foremost our thoughts are with the victim and her family.
Refund offered after sexual harassment claim
0 CommentsUber offers a woman who claims she was sexually harassed during her ride a refund. In an e-mail exchange with Uber, the unidentified woman details her experience while using the taxi service company in London.
Towards the end of the journey he was asking if I liked blow jobs, saying that he was very good at going down on girls or giving “sucky sucky” to girls and did I want him to do it to me. He even suggested that he could pull over into a side street and do it now if I wanted, which was I think the scariest part of the drive. I am aware that this kind of thing becomes very much a he-said, she-said kind of deal, but I did want to make you aware of it as I feel that people really trust the Uber name (as I do) and my trust was completely violated. I am pretty relaxed and outgoing and I feel that I can take care of myself, and if I felt so uncomfortable I dread to think how a more timid girl would have felt. I won’t be taking this any further but I do implore you to take this quite seriously as I worry for other women who could find themselves in a similar situation.
Uber spokesman:
Any driver who is accused of acting inappropriately is suspended from the platform while an investigation is undertaken. We would of course refund a trip if an incident had occurred or the rider was not happy.
SF, LA counties file suit
0 CommentsThe district attorneys of San Francisco and Los Angeles Counties file suit against Uber, citing Uber’s driver screening process as the issue. George Gascón, the District Attorney of San Francisco:
Uber does not go above and beyond local requirements in every city in which it operates. You are not using an industry-leading background process if you are not fingerprinting your drivers.
Uber spokeswoman Eva Behrend:
Californians and California lawmakers all agree — Uber is an integral, safe and established part of the transportation ecosystem in the Golden State.
Suspended in Spain
0 CommentsA judge puts a temporary ban on Uber in Spain following complaints by the Madrid Taxi Association that claim Uber is unfair competition. Uber says it is still operating in the country as The Madrid Taxi Association needs to raise a €10,000 down-payment before the ruling can come into effect. Uber statement:
UberPop is our ride-sharing solution and is about sharing the costs of vehicle ownership and helping people give up their cars and we will continue to run the service. This ruling is inconsistent with broad political acknowledgement in Spain and across the European Union on the benefits of sharing economy services. Uber will continue to comply with Spanish law and is currently assessing its legal options under this sudden and unusual proceeding.
Portland sues Uber
0 CommentsThe city of Portland, Oregon sues Uber to stop the company from operating until it complies with local regulations. Portland’s statement:
The city’s lawsuit is asking for a declaration by the court that Uber is subject to the city’s regulations. The lawsuit also asks the court to order Uber to stop operating in Portland until it is in compliance with the city’s safety, health and consumer protection rules.
Uber spokeswoman Eva Behrend:
Uber has received a tremendously warm welcome from riders and drivers in and around Portland. We appreciate the way residents have welcomed Uber into the Rose City, their support illustrates why it’s time to modernize Portland transportation regulation.
Banned in Delhi
0 CommentsUber is banned in Delhi after a 26-year-old woman claims she used the smartphone app to book a taxi, then was taken to a secluded area and raped. Government statement:
(The) Transport Department has banned all activities relating to providing any transport service by the www.Uber.com with immediate effect.
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick:
Our entire team’s hearts go out to the victim of this despicable crime. We will do everything, I repeat, everything to help bring this perpetrator to justice and to support the victim and her family in her recovery.
Triple J interview about Uber ‘arrests’
Howarth is interviewed for the Australian Broadcasting Corp. youth channel’s Hack program, and says Uber X – not Uber Black or Uber Livery – are exploiting drivers and operating against the law in several states of Australia. Asked if he is working with any other ridesharing or ridesourcing apps he indicates that he may have an arrangement with Uber’s competitors including Lyft. He says he is offering drivers that he citizens arrests the opportunity to work with other companies and make more money while also becoming ‘legitimate.’ Asked by host Tom Tilley if he stands to profit from other companies taking market share away from Uber:
Oh, absolutely.