A Brief History of Uber’s Controversies
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Silicon Valley’s could also be its most toxic. A illuminated as much last night. At a private dinner, Emil Michael, Uber’s SVP of business, suggested a plan to spend $1 million on a revenge campaign against journalists, in particular Sarah Lacy, a writer who has the ridesharing startup. Michael’s apparent plan involves using data, which the company has access to through its app, to dig up information about Lacy’s personal life, then publicly distribute the compromising information. He also talked about hiring opposition researchers to dig up more dirt.
The news quickly ricocheted around Twitter. Taken on its own, the story may not have stirred up such a fierce reaction. But the sheer volume of Uber scandals is difficult to ignore. With each new one, Uber’s three constituents – customers, investors and drivers – are questioning the $18.2 billion company. (Kalanick today on Twitter.) Below, a look at what got us here:
Drivers behaving badly
An Uber driver has been accused of .
An Uber driver was accused of in the head with a hammer.
An Uber driver a rider. Another Uber driver, who, .
An Uber driver hit and . The company avoided liability because its drivers are independent contractors rather than employees.
An Uber driver was . Another was accused of .
Driver treatment
Uber drivers and have held protests and strikes for better pay and treatment.
Uber has been accused of into.
Sexist comments
CEO Travis Kalanick joked about how desirable he is to women, thanks to Uber’s success. “” he told a reporter.
Sexist ads
Uber promoted its services in France by and asking, “Who said women don’t know how to drive?”
Playing dirty against competitors
Kalanick has repeatedly trash-talked rival Lyft, at one point on Twitter. Uber’s elaborate include aggressively recruiting Lyft’s drivers and cancelling rides on the service to waste the drivers’ time.
Uber has even tried to (whichFortune’s Dan Primack has game; venture investor ).
Playing dirty with the media
Uber tried to that painted a positive picture of life as an Uber driver in LA Weekly after the publication ran a .
Surge pricing during emergencies
Uber’s famous free-market pricing strategy did not make an exception for Hurricane Sandy, when many New Yorkers were displaced and the cost of taking an Uber car doubled. After complaints, the company said it would .
Regulatory fights and protests
Uber tussles with the legacy black car and taxi industry in almost every city it enters. Many cities have tried to outlaw the service. When Berlin banned Uber, the company flouted the government and . In other instances, Uber’s presence that causes the commotions. In France, a protest of Uber when an Uber car’s windows were broken and its tires slashed. In London, a protest .
Now, Uber can’t even release an without writers pointing out that the partnership “furthers the ongoing logistical process of .” That was supposed to be a fluffy product announcement. But seen through the lens of Uber’s toxic history, nothing is.
Silicon Valley’s could also be its most toxic. A illuminated as much last night. At a private dinner, Emil Michael, Uber’s SVP of business, suggested a plan to spend $1 million on a revenge campaign against journalists, in particular Sarah Lacy, a writer who has the ridesharing startup. Michael’s apparent plan involves using data, which the company has access to through its app, to dig up information about Lacy’s personal life, then publicly distribute the compromising information. He also talked about hiring opposition researchers to dig up more dirt.
The news quickly ricocheted around Twitter. Taken on its own, the story may not have stirred up such a fierce reaction. But the sheer volume of Uber scandals is difficult to ignore. With each new one, Uber’s three constituents – customers, investors and drivers – are questioning the $18.2 billion company. (Kalanick today on Twitter.) Below, a look at what got us here:
Drivers behaving badly
An Uber driver has been accused of .
