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Writer's pictureDr. Costantino Grasso

UBER FILES: UNETHICAL LOBBYING, TAX ABUSES, AND REGULATORY CAPTURE

An investigation of The Guardian and the ICIJ has revealed that Uber "broke laws, duped police and secretly lobbied governments".

Starting from the leaked Uber Files, more than 180 journalists led by The Guardian and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalist, have conducted an extensive investigation into Uber questionable practices apparently aimed at thwarting regulators and law enforcement and courting prominent world leaders to influence legislation and help it avoid taxes in several countries. The investigation found that the Silicon Valley company held undisclosed meetings with politicians to ask for favors, including dropping probes and changing policies on workers’ rights.


Leaked internal documents reveal that from 2014 to 2016 Uber executives held more than 100 meetings with public officials from 17 countries as well as representatives of European Union institutions. They included 12 meetings with representatives of the European Commission that haven’t been publicly disclosed. Uber also recruited a battalion of former public officials, including many former aides to President Barack Obama, who appealed to public officials to drop probes, change policies on workers’ rights, draft new taxi laws and relax background checks on drivers.


The investigation also revealed that, as Uber fought to set up shop in cities around the globe, it saved millions of dollars in taxes by routing profits through Bermuda and other offshore jurisdictions. The confidential documents show that Uber sought to deflect attention from its tax liabilities by helping authorities collect taxes from its drivers.


Access the investigation on The Guardian


Access the investigation on the ICIJ



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