An Uber signal is displayed inside a automotive in Palatine, In poor health., Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. (AP Picture/Nam Y. Huh)
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UPDATED 6:50 PM PT – Thursday, July 14, 2022
Rideshare big Uber faces a civil swimsuit from greater than 550 girls who claimed the corporate failed to position safeguards to guard its prospects. On Wednesday, the legislation agency representing the ladies mentioned they had been kidnapped, sexually assaulted, battered, raped, stalked, harassed and or in any other case attacked by an Uber driver.
The swimsuit stems from allegations starting in 2014 and claimed Uber was conscious of the alleged incidents however did not act placing growth over rider’s security. The legislation agency claimed that Uber neglected typical background verify requirements within the curiosity of extra shortly onboarding new drivers.
“Uber’s complete enterprise mannequin relies on giving individuals a secure experience dwelling, however rider security was by no means their concern, progress was, on the expense of their passenger’s security,” Adam Slater, founding companion of Slater Slater Schulman mentioned. “Whereas the corporate has acknowledged this disaster of sexual assault lately, its precise response has been gradual and insufficient, with horrific penalties.”
An Uber spokesperson informed Fortune that the corporate seeks to prioritize passenger security and takes critically “each single report” of sexual assault. The newer security options embrace the power for riders to name or textual content 911 by means of the Uber app, Journey Examine to watch if a visit has gone off-course or if maybe a crash has occurred, GPS monitoring and background checks on drivers. The corporate mentioned final yr it additionally began sharing info with its rideshare rival Lyft about drivers who’ve been deactivated from the platform for issues of safety.
“There’s nothing extra essential than security,” the spokesperson mentioned. “Which is why Uber has constructed new security options, established survivor-centric insurance policies and been extra clear about critical incidents. Whereas we are able to’t touch upon pending litigation, we are going to proceed to maintain security on the coronary heart of our work.”
Based on Uber, drivers are vetted by means of background checks and annual evaluations. Regardless of that greater than 3,800 security experiences had been filed in 2019 and 2020.
