Uber Investigation Turns Up Several Bombshells
Investigations turn up the most curious things sometimes. According to news sources, a new leak of more than 100,000 records shows that ride hailing giant Uber used stealth technology to ward off regulators and lobbied political leaders around the world to help the startup undermine worker rights, avoid taxes and expand its global footprint.
The bombshell Uber Files investigation is based on a trove of texts, emails, invoices and other confidential documents from 2013-2017 that were leaked to The Guardian newspaper by an anonymous source. The Guardian then shared the documents with the nonprofit International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, a network of Washington, D.C.-based journalists and other media partners which led the investigation with the Guardian.
Here a few takeaways from the probe:
- Former CEO was encouraged by 2011 violence in Paris
- Uber avoided paying millions of dollars in tax by channeling money through Bermuda and other tax havens, according to the Uber Files.
- After Uber drivers in South Africa were given permission to accept cash, gangs started hailing rides to rob drivers.
In a statement to the Guardian, Uber said it made “mistakes and missteps,” but argued the company changed since 2017 after Dara Khosrowshahi came on as CEO.
“Five years ago, those mistakes culminated in one of the most infamous reckonings in the history of corporate America. That reckoning led to an enormous amount of public scrutiny, a number of high-profile lawsuits, multiple government investigations, and the termination of several senior executives,” the statement said.
“We have not and will not make excuses for past behavior that is clearly not in line with our present values,” it said. “Instead, we ask the public to judge us by what we’ve done over the last five years and what we will do in the years to come.”
Lots of interesting information is coming to light through the Guardian and its ongoing investigation efforts. But as we often see, investigations can lead to to BIG victories in the courtroom or more favorable settlements. And we know that success or failure in the courtroom or during the settlement process depends on having the very best, most detailed information about a case. That’s why great attorneys and law firms across the country work with the worldwide team of Santoni Investigations who will make sure you know everything to maximize the settlement process or win your case in court!
