Crackdowns on a global scale
UBER’S no-strings-attached model is backfiring, drawing a backlash from authorities and taxi operators worldwide. Its problems include:
It was banned in Spain last month after taxi associations said it was competing unfairly with registered taxis;
France banned its UberPop service last week after a court ruled that if the firm advertised some services it would be fined the equivalent of R290 000 a day;
In Brussels, Uber is illegal because its drivers don’t have permits. In parts of Australia Uber drivers are reportedly not licensed either;
India‘s home minister, Rajnath Singh, advised all states and union territories to ban unregistered and unlicensed cab services from December 9. Four days earlier, an Uber driver had allegedly raped a passenger in New Delhi;
South Korea has indicted Uber CEO Travis Kalanick for violating a law governing public transport;
An Uber executive sparked outrage when he suggested the company dig up dirt on hostile journalists. He later apologised;
In Germany and the UK, there have been protests by taxi associations;
India and the UK have complained that payments are handled in Uber‘s Dutch unit to avoid high tax; and
On Tuesday, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission suspended five out of six Uber bases because they had refused to provide information about where their drivers picked up customers.