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Uber faces criminal probe over software used to evade authorities

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

#591

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes there is if you believe that customer to be a health inspector and you move set up your shop somewhere else with the intent of evading said health inspector. See the keyword "intent" there? If your intent with an action is to break the law, the action is illegal.

Of course the intent is to avoid them. Why should that by itself be illegal? If they want to review your business they can do an official inspection. Interfering with an investigation, as long as you don't have an order not to do so (i.e. to preserve evidence or something) should be your freedom. Now the part that Uber is hiding up someone elses wrongdoing makes a bit more sense, but still seems to be the same kind o…

When you encrypt the message, you are not exactly stringing people along wasting their time. When they say that they'll send a car to the inspector, they are tying up regulators' resources in order to sneak away. That's interfering with their work.

Now, the reality is that these inspectors don't need an explicit order to inspect you. If they did, then Uber should simply take these inspectors to court or claim that any evidence they found is inadmissible. Tying up their resources and getting away is beyond simply hiding something, it's purposefully diverting their resources somewhere else. If they simply didn't respond to regulators asking for a car, maybe you would have a point, but they're tying up these resources.

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

#592
post #484

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought the same, and even had a post written... But then found a counter-example: What about people in Nazi Germany hiding others? They were of course very secretive about it -- not being secretive certainly meant you and your charges being sent to a camp, and possibly outright death. Similar things happened with the underground railroad in the US. I would still gladly classify those people as civil disobedients.…

> Maybe there's a difference when you're protecting others? I think the difference is that if you are disobedient in the (current) USA then you will be dragged through an actual justice system and get the chance to make a case for future law changes etc. People persecuted in Nazi Germany did not get the chance to argue their case in a court of law or public opinion. They just got taken away.

I don't think that was ever true for the Underground Railroad. And yet, that was still operated in secret. So there's clearly more than the "immediate danger to self" aspect.

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

#593
post #503

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've never given this argument any respect, and I'm not going to start now. Saying that being fucked over might provide a little bit of benefit is no excuse for fucking people over in the first place.

> is no excuse for fucking people over in the first place Who is getting fucked over because of the job? Are you claiming that people choose those jobs over other, better jobs? If I didn't own a car and was considering making a career as an Uber driver I'd happily accept a lower level of pay and rent someone else's car for a few months to get a sense of how much the job appealed to me and how hard I'd need to work to…

Again, I have no respect for this line of argument. I don't care what you think about someone "risking" things. That's no reason whatsoever to screw people over simply because they have little other choice.

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

#594

Seems like a lot of people are confused/have questions about why Uber is being criminally investigated by the Department of Justice.* Here's why: 1. Uber is subject to the laws in the jurisdictions in which it operates. Evading authorities is textbook obstruction of justice. Not only did Uber build software that they used to evade authorities & break local laws in multiple states and countries, but they profited from…

Forget software, here in Miami where Uber drivers were initially operating illegally (cited with violating 2 municipal ordinances each being a ~$1,010 civil fine, but escalates to criminal charge after the 3rd such violation) Uber sent emails to driver training them on avoiding detection (e.g. When at airport take down phone; have drivers sit up front; etc...). I imagine there are similar emails for every county, cit…

> Uber sent emails to driver training them on avoiding detection (e.g. When at airport take down phone; have drivers sit up front; etc...).

This is literally my interaction with Uber drivers in Jordan. Originally just a convenience (available on demand, and that I don't speak Arabic), I've started getting nervous when using Uber because they aren't licensed in Jordan and drivers always have the discussion with me about sitting up front, telling the police that "we met in English class", etc.

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

#595

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't both services take 25%? I'm confused.

The cut may be the same but the rates for ride may not be the same. Also Lyft do not take a percentage out of your tip compare to Uber. -- once upon a time lyft driver

But.. uber doesn't support tipping in the app. How would they take a cut of a cash tip?

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

#596
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