Uber Agrees to Pay $9.15 Million to California Regulators to Settle Failure to Share Sexual Assault Data

Uber to Pay $5 Million to Victims Fund, $4 Million to Address Sexual Violence in Their Industry and $150,000 Fine

Uber agreed on Thursday, July 15th, to settle with California regulators over failing to provide data on sexual assault in Uber rideshares. Uber had previously been fined $59 million by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

Uber will pay $9 million to the CPUC, of which $5 million is marked to go to the California Victim Compensation Fund. The additional $4 million will be set to “address physical and sexual violence in the passenger carrier industry”.

Uber must also pay a separate $150,000 fine. The total payment agreed to is $9.15 million.

The CPUC fined Uber after Uber failed to answer questions regarding their 2017-2018 sexual assault report. They did not answer questions about who authored the report, given they revealed in the report they did not “assess” any of the incidents reported.

Uber has not updated on when they will release 2019 or 2020 data. It is unknown if they will provide new data to regulators in addition to answering questions for prior years.

Uber Sexual Assault Report 2017-2018

As previously seen here, Uber released data showing nearly 6,000 sexual assaults were reported to Uber in 2017-2018 in the United States, just within the categories they collected. The report led to interest from regulators regarding Uber’s actions, ultimately resulting in the $59 million fine from the CPUC when Uber failed to provide data.

Lyft Sexual Assault Data

Lyft has had a moving timeline for releasing assault data. Unlike Uber, Lyft has never released any sexual assault reports, they have only offered press release statements claiming they care about the subject.

Originally Lyft stated to media companies they would release the report by end of 2019. In May 2020, they stated they would release a report by the end of 2020.

Now, having missed the newest deadline, Lyft claims uncertainty with California regulatory agencies is holding them from releasing data, both California data and data regarding sexual assault in the other 49 states.

Lyft has yet to release any data on rideshare assault.

Levin Simes – Lyft and Uber Sexual Assault Lawyers

Levin Simes is a majority female managed and staffed law firm with significant experience representing survivors of sexual assault.  We are sensitive to the significant emotional trauma and the long, difficult healing process associated with experiencing a sexual assault.

We will handle all communications with Uber, keeping you informed and answering questions every step of the way.  We try to keep the process as easy as possible, so survivors can spend their energy on healing.

If you have any questions, please contact us to ask.