Uber controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2020
Instacart sues Cornershop over alleged intellectual-property theft
Lawsuit filed
In a lawsuit, Instacart sued Cornershop, alleging that Cornershop stole product images and other intellectual property and modified file names to conceal the origin of catalog images. The allegations are reported as claims made in the lawsuit, not as a determination. The event is noted in relation to Uber, the brand associated with this controversy note.
Instacart sued Cornershop, alleging it stole product images and other intellectual property and modified file names to conceal the origin of catalog images. The allegations are reported as claims in a lawsuit, not as a determination.
Company response
Denial — Uber spokesperson
"Instacart is facing a new challenge in the US from a Chilean upstart, and it's unfortunate that their first move is litigation instead of competition," a spokesperson for Uber told Engadget.
Source excerpt
"Instacart is facing a new challenge in the US from a Chilean upstart, and it's unfortunate that their first move is litigation instead of competition," a spokesperson for Uber told Engadget.
In a legal brief, Instacart says Cornershop tried to hide the origin of its catalog images by modifying their file names.
Instacart has sued Cornershop, the grocery-delivery startup Uber acquired last year to expand its food footprint. The company alleges Cornershop stole product images and other intellectual property.
2020
California regulators fine Uber $59 million
Fine or penalty
In December 2020, California regulators fined Uber $59 million after determining that the company had failed to adequately respond to questions about a report detailing sexual assaults during trips on its ride-hailing platform. A judge said the amount was calculated at $7,500 for each instance in which Uber refused to answer a question. The penalty followed the company's inadequate responses to inquiries tied to the assault report.
Source excerpt
In a ruling on Monday on behalf of the CPUC — a regulatory body that regularly investigates transportation companies that operate within the state — a judge declared that the $59 million figure had been decided upon by levying a $7,500 fine for each specific instance of Uber refusing to answer a question during the process.
A California judge ruled this week that the ridesharing service Uber must pay a $59.1 million fine for repeatedly refusing to turn over data related to its 2019 sexual assault report to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
California regulators slapped Uber with a $59 million fine on Monday after they determined that the company had failed to adequately respond to questions about a report detailing thousands of sexual assaults that occurred during trips taken with the company’s ride-hailing platform.
2020
Quartz Auto Technologies sues Uber over patents
Lawsuit filed
Quartz Auto Technologies filed a patent-infringement suit against Uber on February 28, 2020, in the Western District of Texas. The complaint alleges that Uber infringed patents related to its systems and application; the article reports allegations, not a court determination.
Source excerpt
The suit against Uber was filed on Feb. 28, 2020, and the suit against Lyft was filed ten days earlier on Feb. 18.
Uber and Lyft were both served a complaint by Quartz Auto Technologies for patent infringement.
the complaint alleges that Uber and Lyft are using these ideas because of the proximity driven activity in their systems.
2019
New Jersey assesses Uber about $650 million in taxes, interest and penalties
Fine or penalty
New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development said Uber owed roughly $650 million in unemployment taxes and disability insurance, including overdue taxes, interest and penalties, based on its determination that Uber misclassified drivers. Uber disputed the preliminary determination and said it was challenging it.
New Jersey’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development said Uber owed roughly $650 million in unemployment taxes and disability insurance, including overdue taxes, interest and penalties, based on its determination that Uber misclassified drivers. Uber disputed the preliminary determination and said it was challenging it.
Company response
Denial — Uber
“We are challenging this preliminary but incorrect determination,” an Uber spokesman said in an email. “Because drivers are independent contractors in New Jersey and elsewhere.”
Source excerpt
“We are challenging this preliminary but incorrect determination,” an Uber spokesman said in an email. “Because drivers are independent contractors in New Jersey and elsewhere.”
The state’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development said that because of this misclassification, the ride-hailing company owes it roughly $650 million in unemployment taxes and disability insurance,
2019
Uber CEO apologizes for comments about Khashoggi’s murder
Company response
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi faced criticism after describing Jamal Khashoggi’s murder as a “mistake” and comparing it with a fatal incident involving an Uber autonomous vehicle. In response to the criticism, Khosrowshahi said he regretted his comments and tweeted that he was wrong to call it a mistake.
After criticism for describing Jamal Khashoggi’s murder as a “mistake” and comparing it with a fatal incident involving an Uber autonomous vehicle, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said he regretted his comments and tweeted that he was wrong to call it a mistake.
Company response
Apology — Uber
Khosrowshahi later said he regretted his comments, made during an interview with Axios on HBO. He tweeted Monday that there's no forgiving or forgetting what happened to the journalist Jamal Khashoggi and he was wrong to call it a mistake.
Source excerpt
Khosrowshahi later said he regretted his comments, made during an interview with Axios on HBO. He tweeted Monday that there's no forgiving or forgetting what happened to the journalist Jamal Khashoggi and he was wrong to call it a mistake.
New York: Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi is being criticised for calling the murder of a Washington Post columnist "a mistake" and comparing it to the death of a pedestrian struck by one of the company's autonomous vehicles.
2019
London refuses Uber operating licence
Ban or restriction
Transport for London refused Uber’s application for an operating licence in London, citing remaining safety concerns and insufficient confidence that similar problems would not recur.
Source excerpt
伦敦市交通局拒绝了Uber在伦敦的运营牌照申请。这导致Uber股价在盘前一度跌幅近6%，最终，Uber报收29.11美元，跌1.52%。伦敦市交通局的一份声明中认为，虽然Uber解决了一些问题，但是仍存在安全问题，当局对Uber是否会发生类似问题没有足够的信心，所以认为其暂时不适合在伦敦运营。
2017
Corporate culture and management controversy
Uber faced extensive criticism over workplace culture, allegations of harassment and discrimination, management conduct, and its approach to regulatory disputes. The controversy contributed to executive departures and Travis Kalanick’s resignation as CEO.