Secret Uber software steers drivers from stings
SAN FRANCISCO: Uber on Friday acknowledged the use of a secret software programme to steer drivers away from trouble, including sting operations by local authorities to catch lawbreakers.
In the latest in a streak of damaging news for the ridesharing giant, Uber came forward about its “Greyball” software after a New York Times report which said the programme aimed to deceive authorities in markets around the world. According to an Uber statement, the tool was used in cities where it was not banned from operating, and the main intent was to protect drivers from disruption by competitors using the smartphone application to interfere instead legitimate rides.
“This programme denies ride requests to fraudulent users who of summon are violating our terms of service,” an Uber spokesperson said.
The New York Times report, which said Greyball was used in several countries, cited interviews with current and former employees whose names were cloaked.
According to the report, the programme raised ethical and potential concerns, and had been a closely guarded secret in Uber’s toolbox as it expanded around the world, clashing with regulators and traditional taxi groups.
Ways of figuring out which users might be regulators or police included checking whether cards used for accounts were linked to governments or police credit unions, the report said.