Transport company Uber was caught in the global spotlight last weekend, after 124,000 files leaked to the Guardian revealed the company secretively lobbied politicians to change the structure of the transport industry across international segments.
The files, which were also shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), displayed messages and emails spanning 40 counties between 2014 to 2017 as Uber started to work its way into the global transport infrastructure and disrupt established taxi services.
Uber were revealed to have bullied their way into the good graces of friendly politicians, in an attempt to dismantle transport regulations which hindered its business model.
Emmanuel Macron was recorded participating in extraordinary measures to break Uber into France’s ‘closed-shop’ taxi industry, and apparently told the firm he had struck a “deal” with politicians in the French cabinet opposed to the group.
The reports also revealed that Uber utilised a ‘kill-switch’ to stop police and officials from gaining access to sensitive information on raids against its offices in at least six different countries.
Six UK ministers were identified as lobbying for Uber at undisclosed meetings, including former Chancellor George Osbourne and Matt Hancock, alongside further discoveries of how Uber lobbied Boris Johnson using its Conservative connections in an attempt to block new transport regulations across London.
There have further been mentions of tax avoidance, which caused one top Uber executive to resign upon questioning.
Former vice-president of the European Commission Neelie Kroes was also pointed out for assisting Uber in its lobbying of a series of Dutch top politicians, including the Prime Minister, and two of Barack Obama’s highest presidential campaign advisors, David Plouffe and Jim Messina, were reported as helping Uber gain access to top US officials.
Uber claimed its previous history did not reflect the company it had become today, and commented the company was a force for good across the international transport industry.
“We have not and will not make excuses for past behaviour that is clearly not in line with our present values. 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,” said Uber senior vice-president of public affairs Jill Hazelbaker.
“Uber is now one of the largest platforms for work in the world and an integral part of everyday life for over 100 million people. We’ve moved from an era of confrontation to one of collaboration, demonstrating a willingness to come to the table and find common ground with former opponents, including labour unions and taxi companies.”
“We are now regulated in more than 10,000 cities around the world, working at all levels of government to improve the lives of those using our platform and the cities we serve.”