Uber Collects User Location Data, New York City Demands Access
Uber recently announced customer location data collection for the duration of rides, and New York City has already demanded access to it. According to the ridesharing giant, officials from the New York City government have demanded sensitive customer data. This includes constant geolocation, which the app uses to help drivers and riders find each other without constant call-response communication. This would mean that law enforcement agencies would have the effective use of all Uber users’ whereabouts while using the app. In an email to customers, Uber outlined the threat to privacy....
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The city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire passed an ordinance regulating ride-sharing services that took effect in September of 2015. The ordinance made driving with Uber and other ride-sharing companies illegal within the city limits. Christopher David, a former Uber driver, launched the Free Uber campaign using Bitcoin prize pools to incentivize activism protesting the ordinance. Now, in the wake of protests by Uber drivers over the company’s decision to cut fares, David is launching his own blockchain-based ride-sharing platform, Arcade City. To promote the new platform, he and nine other....
Buenos Aires has renewed its push to shut down Uber operations in the city, attempting to legally prosecute its local leadership and ban its app from use. Argentina’s capital city, under pressure from local taxi companies, is engaged in a long-term conflict with the global ridesharing giant, which has persisted since credit card services were blocked earlier this year. Franco Amati, co-founder of the Buenos Aires Bitcoin center, details the company’s continuing struggle in the city: “On the judicial front, Buenos Aires’ city prosecutor tried to put local Uber directors in jail. The judge....
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The Argentinian government blocked credit card companies from dealing with Uber, causing the ridesharing company’s national branch to use Bitcoin instead. The city of Buenos Aires issued orders both to the national communications agency (ENACOM) and credit card companies to block the Uber app and deny the company use of credit card service. This prompted Uber to partner with Swiss Bitcoin company Xapo to enable payments through Bitcoin debit cards. Part of an ongoing war against Uber. The ride-sharing company has faced harsh resistance in Argentina, particularly in Buenos Aires. Taxi....