Uber’s use of ‘Greyball’ program causes ethics concerns
The ride-sharing company is being hit with more scrutiny after it admitted to using a program that denied rides to officials who sought to stop Uber’s operation. Another executive left, too.
In the past month, the company has faced allegations of rampant sexual harassment and gender inequality in the ranks, a #deleteUber campaign that prompted 200,000 people to delete the app, and an apology after the company’s chief executive flipped out on a driver while being filmed on a dashcam.
Now, it’s come to light that Uber has been skirting law enforcement in cities where the service was banned.
The move is part of a tool the company dubbed “Greyball.” It uses a variety of methods to identify officials whose aim it was to suppress the service and target its drivers. The company used it in cities where Uber faced local backlash—or worse, banishment—including Boston, Paris and Las Vegas.
According to multiple reports, the Greyball program began in 2014, and is still in use today.
Perhaps worse, four current and former Uber workers anonymously ratted out the company to The New York Times.
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