Every Eight Minutes: Uber’s Alarming Sexual Violence Problem

Overview

This episode delves into a New York Times investigation revealing the alarming prevalence of sexual assault and harassment incidents reported during Uber rides. Investigative journalist Emily Steel discusses the scope of the problem, Uber's internal knowledge, and the company's delayed or insufficient actions to address rider and driver safety.

Notable Quotes

- Uber received a report of sexual assault or sexual misconduct in the United States almost every 8 minutes on average between 2017 and 2022. – Emily Steel

- If people know about the harm and the risks, they can take steps to protect themselves and others. – Emily Steel

- "To highlight these risks could present a problem—it could say, 'Hey, we might not be as safe as what we said we were.'” – Emily Steel, on Uber's reluctance to disclose safety issues.

🚨 The Scale of the Problem

- Between 2017 and 2022, Uber received 400,181 reports of sexual assault or misconduct in the U.S., far exceeding the 12,522 serious cases the company publicly disclosed.

- Reports included a wide range of incidents, from inappropriate comments to severe assaults, with 25% categorized as serious.

- Uber argued that 99.9% of rides occur without incident, but even a small percentage translates to thousands of victims.

📊 Uber’s Internal Knowledge and Data

- Uber began studying patterns of sexual violence on its platform as early as 2016.

- Internal data revealed that assaults often occurred late at night, near bars, and involved intoxicated passengers. Women, both drivers and passengers, were disproportionately victims.

- Despite identifying these patterns, Uber delayed implementing or publicizing solutions, prioritizing its image as a safe service.

🛠️ Safety Tools and Delayed Implementation

- Predictive Algorithms: Uber developed a model to forecast high-risk driver-passenger pairings, which could predict 15% of assaults. However, the tool was initially tested in shadow mode without intervention and remains imperfect.

- Women-Only Pairing: Piloted in Saudi Arabia in 2019, this option faced delays in the U.S. due to concerns about gender discrimination lawsuits, operational feasibility, and potential reputational risks.

- Dash Cams: Proposed as early as 2014, mandatory cameras were rejected due to cost and concerns about undermining Uber's independent contractor model.

💼 Legal and Ethical Implications

- Uber faces over 3,000 lawsuits from passengers alleging sexual assault or harassment. The company denies liability, citing its role as a matchmaker between independent drivers and riders.

- Critics argue Uber prioritized growth over safety, failing to adequately warn users about risks or implement effective safety measures.

- Internal debates revealed fears that transparency about risks could deter riders and harm the company's bottom line.

🔍 Transparency and Accountability

- Uber's reluctance to disclose the full scope of the problem has sparked internal and external criticism.

- Some employees advocated for warning riders about high-risk scenarios, such as late-night pickups near bars, but the company ultimately decided against it to avoid scaring off customers.

- The investigation raises broader questions about corporate responsibility and the balance between business interests and public safety.