Gavin Howe
Uber has been accused of breaking laws, duping police and secretly lobbying governments. Leaked files suggest that Uber used a kill switch to prevent authorities from gathering evidence during raids. Uber has also been accused of operating in Germany after a court barred the ride-sharing company from doing so. The company has argued that transport laws are outdated for the smartphone era.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Unlicensed taxi journeys | Uber drivers were fined and their cars impounded |
| Thwarting law enforcement | Uber used a "kill switch" to cut off access to its data systems during raids |
| Lobbying governments | Uber secretly lobbied governments |
| Operating in Germany | Uber continued to operate in Germany after being barred from doing so by a court |
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What You'll Learn
Uber's use of a kill switch to thwart law enforcement
Uber has been accused of breaking laws, duping police and secretly lobbying governments. One of the ways in which the company has been accused of doing this is by using a "kill switch". When an Uber office was raided, executives at the company would send out instructions to IT staff to cut off access to the company's main data systems, preventing authorities from gathering evidence.
The "kill switch" was used at least 12 times during raids in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, India, Hungary and Romania. Uber's spokesperson said that the "kill switch" software "should never have been used to thwart legitimate regulatory action" and that the company had stopped using the system in 2017 when Khosrowshahi replaced Kalanick as CEO.
Kalanick's spokesperson said that such "kill switch" protocols were common business practice and not designed to obstruct justice. She said that the protocols, which did not delete data, were vetted and approved by Uber's legal department, and that the former Uber CEO was never charged in relation to obstruction of justice or a related offence.
Uber's use of the "kill switch" is just one example of the company's willingness to flout laws that it felt didn't apply. For instance, after a court barred the ride-sharing company from operating in Germany, it continued to do so anyway. Uber has since backed off after further legal setbacks in Europe.
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Uber's lobbying of governments
Uber has been accused of breaking laws, duping police and secretly lobbying governments. Leaked files suggest that Uber used a 'kill switch' technique to thwart law enforcement at least 12 times during raids in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, India, Hungary and Romania. The technique was signed off by Uber's lawyers and involved cutting off access to the company's main data systems, preventing authorities from gathering evidence. Uber's spokesperson said that the kill switch software "should never have been used to thwart legitimate regulatory action" and that the company had stopped using the system in 2017 when Khosrowshahi replaced Kalanick as CEO.
Uber has also been accused of flouting laws that it felt didn't apply. For example, after a court barred the ride-sharing company from operating in Germany, it continued to operate there anyway. Uber's former chief lobbyist for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Mark MacGann, came forward as the source of the leaked data, saying it was his "duty to speak up and help governments and parliamentarians right some fundamental wrongs".
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Uber's duping of police
Uber has been accused of duping police and secretly lobbying governments, according to leaked files.
The files suggest that Uber developed sophisticated methods to thwart law enforcement. One was known internally as a "kill switch". When an Uber office was raided, executives at the company sent out instructions to IT staff to cut off access to the company's main data systems, preventing authorities from gathering evidence.
The kill switch software was deployed at least 12 times during raids in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, India, Hungary and Romania. Uber's spokesperson said that the system "should never have been used to thwart legitimate regulatory action" and that it had stopped using the system in 2017, when Khosrowshahi replaced Kalanick as CEO.
Kalanick's spokesperson said that such "kill switch" protocols were common business practice and not designed to obstruct justice. She said the protocols, which did not delete data, were vetted and approved by Uber's legal department, and the former Uber CEO was never charged in relation to obstruction of justice or a related offence.
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Uber's operations in Germany despite a court order
Uber has been accused of breaking laws, duping police and secretly lobbying governments. Leaked messages suggest Uber executives were aware of the company's law-breaking, with one executive joking they had become "pirates".
One example of Uber's law-breaking is the company's continued operation in Germany despite a court order barring the ride-sharing company from operating in the country. Uber has since backed off after further legal setbacks in Europe.
Uber's spokesperson said that, when it started, "ridesharing regulations did not exist anywhere in the world" and transport laws were outdated for a smartphone era. Across the world, police, transport officials and regulatory agencies sought to clamp down on Uber. In some cities, officials downloaded the app and hailed rides so they could crack down on unlicensed taxi journeys, fining Uber drivers and impounding their cars. Uber offices in dozens of countries were repeatedly raided by authorities.
In response to this, Uber developed a "kill switch". When an Uber office was raided, executives at the company sent out instructions to IT staff to cut off access to the company's main data systems, preventing authorities from gathering evidence. Uber's spokesperson said the "kill switch" software "should never have been used to thwart legitimate regulatory action" and it had stopped using the system in 2017, when Khosrowshahi replaced Kalanick as CEO.
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Uber's operations in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, India, Hungary and Romania
Uber has broken laws in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, India, Hungary and Romania. In these countries, Uber has been accused of duping police, secretly lobbying governments, and using a "kill switch" to thwart law enforcement.
In France, Uber has been banned as a result of lawsuits, and the company has filed complaints with the European Commission, alleging that France is in violation of article 49 (freedom of establishment) and article 56 (freedom to provide services) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
In the Netherlands, Uber, along with other share economy companies, sent an open letter to the Netherlands Presidency of the Council of the EU, calling on the EU Member States to ensure that local and national laws do not unnecessarily limit the development of the collaborative economy.
In Belgium, Uber has also been banned as a result of lawsuits, and the company has filed complaints with the European Commission.
In India, Uber was banned by Delhi's transport department, which cited several rules that Uber had broken. According to New Delhi's Radio Taxi Scheme, 2006, all taxi licensees must be either a company under the Companies Act, 2013 (or the 1956 Act), or a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Furthermore, taxi services must provide adequate parking space for all taxis, as well as sufficiently sized office space to accommodate the control room, and maintain a minimum fleet size per license (500 vehicles).
In Hungary and Romania, Uber has also been accused of using its "kill switch" software to thwart law enforcement.
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Frequently asked questions
The 'kill switch' was a method used by Uber to prevent authorities from gathering evidence during raids. When an Uber office was raided, executives sent out instructions to IT staff to cut off access to the company's main data systems.
Uber used the 'kill switch' to dupe the police and prevent them from gathering evidence during raids.
Leaked files suggest that Uber secretly lobbied governments in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, India, Hungary and Romania.
One executive joked that they had become "pirates", while another conceded: "We're just fucking illegal".
