In some cities that lack a legal framework for ride services, officials have worked to ticket, tow and impound Uber cars. Rides requested from spots near city enforcement agencies suspected of launching stings to trap Uber drivers could be ignored or cancelled, for instance. This is the latest in a series of headaches for the popular ride-hailing app. It's now been revealed that for years the ride-hailing app has deceived regulators in areas where its services were resisted or banned by authorities by using a secret technology. The technology grew out of work to protect the app from disruption by competitors and to safeguard drivers from abuse.
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Greyball also has been used to prevent taxi drivers from tracking the locations of Uber drivers. Greyball reportedly began as a tool to flag abusive riders in countries where violence against Uber drivers was happening, sometimes incited by rival taxi services. But rather than procuring a driver for the "customer," the service showed officials fake versions of the Uber app, complete with fake drivers. But the company eventually discovered that it could help identify government officials who were scrutinizing the company, the Times reported. Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick, at a 2014 convention, has found his company in the midst of several high-profile issues in recent weeks.
Uber has been using a secret, elaborate program called Greyball for years to sidestep authorities in cities around the world where the ride-hailing service has faced resistance or was banned by local authorities. If one such 'customer' tries to hail an Uber, the app will show images of "ghost" Uber cars or show no cars are available to deceive and "greyball" authorities. Using data collected from the app, the tool identifies certain individuals such as law enforcement officers who posed as regular customers in sting operations. Earlier this week, a video emerged of Uber CEO Travis Kalanick yelling at an Uber driver over fares. Other techniques included using geolocation data to identify users frequently opening and closing the app near government offices.
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Uber used secret tool, extraordinary measures to sidestep government officials
Greyball also has been used to prevent taxi drivers from tracking the locations of Uber drivers. Greyball reportedly began as a tool to flag abusive riders in countries where violence against Uber drivers was happening, sometimes incited by rival taxi services. But rather than procuring a driver for the "customer," the service showed officials fake versions of the Uber app, complete with fake drivers. But the company eventually discovered that it could help identify government officials who were scrutinizing the company, the Times reported. Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick, at a 2014 convention, has found his company in the midst of several high-profile issues in recent weeks.
Uber used an elaborate, secret 'Greyball' tool to evade authorities for years
Uber has been using a secret, elaborate program called Greyball for years to sidestep authorities in cities around the world where the ride-hailing service has faced resistance or was banned by local authorities. If one such 'customer' tries to hail an Uber, the app will show images of "ghost" Uber cars or show no cars are available to deceive and "greyball" authorities. Using data collected from the app, the tool identifies certain individuals such as law enforcement officers who posed as regular customers in sting operations. Earlier this week, a video emerged of Uber CEO Travis Kalanick yelling at an Uber driver over fares. Other techniques included using geolocation data to identify users frequently opening and closing the app near government offices.
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collected by :John Miller