Ride-hailing and sharing app Uber has come under fire recently for unethical business practices. A former employee of Uber has blown the whistle (shout to Too Short) on the company for allowing employees to use a semi-secret “God view” feature to spy on riders as well as improperly and insecurely storing rider data.
Former forensic investigator at Uber Samuel Ward Spangenberg has brought a lawsuit against his former employer for age discrimination and whistleblower retaliation; he was fired eleven months after making his concerns know to Uber executives. He alleges employees would use the “God view” feature to monitor the activity of “high profile politicians, celebrities and even personal acquaintances of Uber employees, including ex-boyfriends/girlfriends, and ex-spouses.” He even says that Beyonce’s account had been monitored.
The company has never had a reputation for likability, often characterized as overly corporate in the media. However, it works well so people have continued to utilize the app. Uber has reportedly renamed its “God view” feature to “Heaven view” and has released statements saying “fewer than 10” employees have been fired for abusing the feature. However, just a few weeks ago they increased the amount of information they gather from riders, continuing to collect location data up to five minutes after a trip has ended. The latest strike against Uber will further test everyone’s commitment to the convenience the app offers. Will everyone continue to Uber everywhere?
[via The Guardian]
