Uber is sued by 550 women in the US for rape and assault, says newspaper

Uber is being sued by more than 550 passengers for kidnapping, rape, assault and sexual harassment during rides on the app, according to a report this Thursday (15) published by The Guardian newspaper.

In the lawsuit, filed this Wednesday (14) in the Superior Court of the County of San Francisco, in the United States, the company is accused of not protecting women and presenting systematic failures in the prevention of violence.

Lawyer Adam Slater, representing the passengers, told the British newspaper that Uber had recognized the situation in recent years, but the response was slow and inadequate.

“Uber can do a lot more to protect passengers: add cameras to deter burglaries, check drivers’ backgrounds, create an alert system when drivers don’t stay on the way to their destination,” he said.

Slater told The Guardian that the firm he is a partner in, Slater Slater Schulman, is still investigating more than 150 cases for inclusion in the same lawsuit.

“Sexual assault is a horrible crime and we take each report seriously,” an Uber spokesperson said in response to the lawsuit.

“There’s nothing more important than safety, which is why Uber has created new safety features, established survivor-centered policies, and been more transparent about serious incidents. While we cannot comment on pending litigation, we will continue to maintain safety in the center of our work,” the company said.