Uber to Pay $9 Million Settlement Over Failure to Report Sexual Assaults to California Agency

Uber Technologies Inc. agreed to pay a $9 million settlement for failing to respond to nearly two years of requests from California regulators for information on sexual assault claims brought by its customers and drivers.

Settlement Funds to be Used to Address Physical and Sexual Abuse

The agreement announced by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Uber, and the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) — an organization that operates with Uber to train drivers on sexual misconduct — will help support passenger safety initiatives. 

Uber will pay the California Victim Compensation Board $5 million, the ride-hailing industry $4 million in efforts to address physical and sexual abuse, and the state’s general fund a $150,000 fine.

Additionally, the company agreed to submit future data on sexual assault.

Uber previously argued that complying with requests to turn over the information (names and contact) of sexual assault victims without their consent would violate privacy rights. RAINN, a nonprofit organization, filed similar appeals in support of Uber, and regulators modified the requests in later rulings.

Under the terms of the settlement, sexual assault and harassment data will be sent to the commission using a unique identifier system to protect survivors’ identities, and an opt-in process will be established for survivors to provide more details about an assault to regulators.

Uber’s representative, Jodi Kawada Page, said in a statement that they are pleased the full commission supported the agreement, which was developed in collaboration with CPUC employees and RAINN experts. But, most importantly, they may proceed with a solution that protects survivors’ privacy and agency.

The Uber California Sexual Assault Settlement for $9 million  is less than the penalties threatened by regulators last year. The Public Utilities Commission previously stated that it possessed the authority to impose fines in the tens of millions of dollars.

Uber Disclosed Reports of Sexual Assault Following Criticisms

Uber disclosed in December 2019 that it had received over 6,000 reports of sexual assault in the U.S. over a two-year course. The disclosure came as a result of considerable criticism of the company’s safety policies by legislators and advocacy groups.

Shortly thereafter, an administrative law judge ordered Uber to provide additional details, including descriptions of each sexual misconduct claim made in California between 2017 and 2019 and witnesses’ names and contact information, including victims, as well as Uber employees who received the reports.

Meanwhile, Uber challenged regulators for months in an attempt to overturn the decision.

Uber refused to comply without any legitimate legal or factual basis, the judge ruled in December 2020 and should be fined $59 million. In addition, the judge advised that regulators suspend Uber’s operating permits if the company fails to fully pay the fine and comply with the data requests within 30 days.

In January, Uber filed an appeal, requesting that the dispute be resolved through negotiations. Later in July, the judge assigned mediators, and the parties submitted a settlement proposal.

Uber’s $4 million commitment to passenger safety initiatives will fund an industry-wide evaluation of existing protocols for disclosing physical and sexual violence cases, the development of recommendations for how to receive and/or respond to complaints, and a program for outreach and violence prevention training.

The commission’s Consumer Protection and Enforcement Division will handle contracts for these initiatives.

Editor’s Note on Uber California Sexual Assault Settlement For $9 Million:

This article is written to inform you of the Uber $9 million settlement for failing to respond to requests from California regulators regarding sexual assault claims by its customers and drivers and where the settlement funds will be used. We also suggest you read How To Get A Female Driver.

Do you think the initiatives discussed in this article will eradicate or lower the sexual and physical abuse when utilizing Uber? Click the “Contact Us” button below and share with us your thoughts!

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