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Uber faces criminal probe over software used to evade authorities

reuters.com

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Re: Uber faces criminal probe over software used to evade authorities

#381

Post by stordoff »

nostromo wrote: post #44

I'm not a fan of Uber, but it seems like it's their right to decide who is allowed to use their service. (Baring protected classes, of course.) If a regulator started creating fake user accounts in order to scrape Uber's data, I don't see why Uber can't put a stop to that. And if a legislator is a vocal critic of Uber, I don't see why Uber should be forced to allow them to use their service.

I'd imagine it comes down to intent. Banning non-protected classes of people for personal/ideological reasons is fine, whereas banning the same class with the intention of avoiding an investigation isn't.

Re: Uber faces criminal probe over software used to evade authorities

#382

Post by [deleted] »

laughingman2 wrote: post #318

Lots of Anarcho-Kapitalists drunk on Ayn Rand Kool Aid. Travis is a criminal who has marketed his breaking of labor laws, civil laws as "disruption". Maybe this is what will happen you get billions of investment dollars without earning through old fashioned way of making profits. Financialism has blinded America.

[deleted]

Re: Uber faces criminal probe over software used to evade authorities

#383

Post by [deleted] »

ianamartin wrote: post #136

Kalanick must have known this was on its way when he backed out of the Code Conference a few days ago. Even with just the events of the last few months, he was already going to be on the hot seat facing Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg. And you know neither of them were going to pull any punches. John Gruber quipped that cancelling that interview was probably the smartest thing Kalanick has done in a while. I see that…

[deleted]

Re: Uber faces criminal probe over software used to evade authorities

#384

Post by [deleted] »

Kinnard wrote: post #14

>the Greyball technique was also used against suspected local officials who could have been looking to fine drivers, impound cars or otherwise prevent Uber from operating, the employees said Doesn't Uber have a responsibility to protect itself and its drivers from fake riders looking to do harm even if they're government employees?? I think going after average or in many cases poor people trying to make a buck drivin…

[deleted]

Re: Uber faces criminal probe over software used to evade authorities

#385

Post by kuschku »

johncolanduoni wrote: post #340
djsumdog wrote: post #336

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the sad state of hypernormalism we're now in. We acknowledge the rich get a different standards of justice, but feel powerless (and rightly so) to do anything about it.

Now? When was the golden age where that wasn't the case?

French Revolution? /s

Re: Uber faces criminal probe over software used to evade authorities

#386

Post by kuschku »

th4dv wrote: post #348
mschuster91 wrote: post #304

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> drivers are forced to purchase a medallion In Germany: while taxis are required to have licenses, we don't have such things as taxi drivers renting their medallions for a day. > and abide by other silly regulations Regulations usually exist for good reasons. Let's just take the common complaints about the German ones: - cab drivers have rigorous tests on their knowledge of the city's streets: you don't want to have…

> Regulations usually exist for good reasons It's just a very small group of people telling everyone else what's good for them. I have a better idea - create regulations that "protect the innocent" but at the same time allow people to opt-out from such "protection" and use whatever transportation service they fucking please (but at their own risk).

German taxis actually allow that.

Services that are technically "rent a car with a driver" can operate like taxis, but not do on-street pickup.

Only regulations: Needs driver license, needs insurance.

Re: Uber faces criminal probe over software used to evade authorities

#387

Post by raverbashing »

ingenuous2 wrote: post #338
personlurking wrote: post #302

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Brazil, there are now Uber users, with fleets of cars, who no longer have to drive themselves, since these users rent the cars out to unemployed people (or those unable to have their own car) in exchange for a large part of the profits.

Given the reported strictness of the Uber rating system, are the actual drivers good? Isn't that what the rating system is supposed to solve?

No they are complete crap, worse than taxi drivers

Re: Uber faces criminal probe over software used to evade authorities

#388

Post by josefx »

laser wrote: post #327
naskwo wrote: post #293

Last weekend, I visited Hamburg with my wife. I was surprised when I was told that I couldn't catch an Uber. However, on each German taxi (you know, the beige ones) there was a sticker prompting me to download the "EUTaxi" (or similarly named) app, which I did. Brilliant. I was able to summon a car within minutes, and this app also allows for paying via the app. Uber's biggest threat is, IMO, the creation of a well-w…

I generally agree with your sentiment, but just to give another perspective I thought I should point out that there's a significant difference between those that can afford to travel to Europe and hail a ride from a "professionally licensed driver", and those that can afford to spend $3.41* to pool home from Boston to Cambridge at 2:30am on a Thursday night, with a guy returning home from work looking to make a few e…

> regulation of ride sharing markets

You misspelled taxi markets.

> with a guy returning home from work looking to make a few extra bucks,

I don't know the local regulations, however isn't it still allowed to drive them at cost? Allowing the guy returning from work to cover the fuel cost by driving others? Sure its not the latest illegal getting rich quick scheme.

Re: Uber faces criminal probe over software used to evade authorities

#389

Post by mtempm »

gotothedoctor wrote: post #242
orblivion wrote: post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just for the sake of discussion: What about Silk Road? I would say that's a legitimate case of a company (of sorts) engaging in civil disobedience. Ross Ulbricht was ideologically motivated. I've heard some rumors about Travis' ideology. Maybe he's similar. (He named his company Uber, maybe he's some sort of Nietzschean?)

You would be incorrect. Humans, not companies, engage in civil disobedience. Regardless, whether its Ross, Travis or anyone else, why would or should ideological motivation be relevant to whether or not any given act is legal or how it should be punished? When libertarians, for whatever reason, choose to start businesses in CA, they are explicitly consenting to our government & to obeying our democratically enacted l…

>why would or should ideological motivation be relevant to whether or not any given act is legal or how it should be punished? When libertarians, for whatever reason, choose to start businesses in CA, they are explicitly consenting to our government & to obeying our democratically enacted laws. Ideology is not a shield for consequences--and, for both Travis & Ross, using Ayn Rand to justify their behavior only makes them less sympathetic to judges, prosecutors & juries.

I didnt work for the Justice Department, but this appears to not be consistently logical. If ideology doesnt matter, why does valuing liberty negatively influence a judge's or prosecuter's actions towards you? That doesn't seem right.

Also, if ideological motivation should not play a role in prosecuting crimes, then why does our justice system sometimes do the opposite (consider hate crimes, or other cases where motivation is considered when prosecuting crimes, i.e. different versions of murder charges.)

Re: Uber faces criminal probe over software used to evade authorities

#390

Post by TheCondor »

samrap wrote: post #18

At first, it seemed like legitimate software to assess spam until: > For example, it mined credit card information to see if the owner was affiliated with a credit union used by police and checked social media profiles to assess the likelihood that the person was in law enforcement. Yikes. I know people who have the mentality that this sort of thing is ok. Whether you're a startup that never makes it, or one worth bi…

Has there ever been a "big one" that caused you to stop using a product on ethical grounds?
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