<
https://theconversation.com/the-uber-files-leaked-documents-reveal-a-strategy-of-chaos-has-anything-changed-186770>
"Uber has had a controversial history since its founding in 2009, from violent
conflicts among drivers to a secret software allegedly used to evade law
enforcement. Now, a leak of over 124,000 documents dubbed the Uber files shows
the extent to which the firm under co-founder and former CEO Travis Kalanick
capitalised on that chaos to expand across 40 countries.
My research explores the relationship between Uber and the state. The company’s
strategy to grow at all costs has been uneven, shaped and slowed by varying
regulations in different markets. In recent years, Uber appears to have toned
down its approach and stop some of the more aggressive activity detailed in the
leaks. But in my view, the strategy at the heart of the company’s success means
it will always be in battle with the laws where it operates.
The Uber files reportedly show the company had a deliberate strategy of
breaking or ignoring the law and was very much aware of it. Uber’s original
service – citizens driving other citizens in their private cars without permits
or licenses of any kind – was mostly in a grey legal area. In emails,
executives joked about being “pirates” and the company’s model being “just
fucking illegal”, when it faced legal opposition in entering new markets."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
