Death Comes for Us All?: How Uber Used Secret Greyball Tool to Deceive Authorities Worldwide - Sensationalist Headlines

[quote] SAN FRANCISCO — Uber has for years engaged in a worldwide program to deceive the authorities in markets where its low-cost ride-hailing service was being resisted by law enforcement or, in some instances, had been outright banned. The program, involving a tool called Greyball, uses data collected from the Uber app and other techniques to identify and circumvent officials. Uber used these methods to evade the authorities in cities such as [URL="http://bostinno.streetwise.co/2014/05/29/how-many-boston-uberx-drivers-have-been-ticketed-by-boston-police/"]Boston[/URL], Paris and Las Vegas, and in countries like Australia, China, Italy and South Korea. Greyball was part of a broader program called VTOS, short for “violation of terms of service,” which Uber created to root out people it thought were using or targeting its service improperly. The VTOS program, including the Greyball tool, began as early as 2014 and remains in use, predominantly outside the United States. Greyball was approved by Uber’s legal team.[/quote] source: [url]https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/03/technology/uber-greyball-program-evade-authorities.html[/url]

Good. It's not the governments place to ban individuals from doing freelance work like driving for uber.

Completely unethical to weed out users using "big data," but I'm actually quite impressed if it's effective.

legally/ethically dodgy as it is that's fuckin' cool, maaaaan :cool:

[QUOTE=StonedPenguin;51909023]Good. It's not the governments place to ban individuals from doing freelance work like driving for uber.[/QUOTE] It is when there is already a taxi industry that requires a license, as a uber driver you are doing exactly the same as a taxi driver, and you should need the same licenses.

[QUOTE=eirexe;51909214]It is when there is already a taxi industry that requires a license, as a uber driver you are doing exactly the same as a taxi driver, and you should need the same licenses.[/QUOTE] taxi licenses are dumb

[QUOTE=Kentz;51909277]taxi licenses are dumb[/QUOTE] while yes the system is in dire need of reform, saying fuck it and going around it then implimenting tech to avoid law enforcement scrutiny is scummy as fuck. the original intent of the taxi system (at least how it works in the US for the most part) was that the medalion was readily obtainable hut you had to meet criteria to get it, now thanks to heavy regulstions from taxi lobbying the medalions are almost impossible for individual drivers to own so theres less independants and more large taxi companies buying up medalions and strongarming the regulators to severely limit the issuing of medalions

[QUOTE=Vodkavia;51909317]Considering Taxi certification comes with training, back ground checks and insurance for passengers no it's not. Uber should have been nipped in the bud legally.[/QUOTE] Considering taxi companies have been fucking over any competitor they can in order to monopolize and have implemented Byzantine regulations to protect their monopolies, I'd say Uber is a welcome change to a stagnating market.

[QUOTE=Vodkavia;51909317]Considering Taxi certification comes with training, back ground checks and insurance for passengers no it's not. Uber should have been nipped in the bud legally.[/QUOTE] I'm signing up to be an Uber delivery driver and had to submit my insurance and SS# lol [t]http://imgur.com/LdMa3Lv.png[/t]

[QUOTE=Vodkavia;51909317]Considering Taxi certification comes with training, back ground checks and insurance for passengers no it's not. Uber should have been nipped in the bud legally.[/QUOTE] Shall we bring up this little tidbit about medallions again again? "The median sale price for a medallion hovered around $70,000 in 2007 before reaching a median sales peak of $357,000 in late 2013." -[URL="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/05/17/taxi-medallion-values-decline-uber-rideshare/27314735/"]USA[/URL] Uber doesn't charge you to be a driver, and that is where all the grousing arises from.

[QUOTE=Kentz;51909277]taxi licenses are dumb[/QUOTE] Uber is dumb and unethical.

[QUOTE=StonedPenguin;51909023]Good. It's not the governments place to ban individuals from doing freelance work like driving for uber.[/QUOTE] It's not the governments job to regulate business and enforce the law?

[QUOTE=Lambeth;51910820]Uber is dumb and unethical.[/QUOTE] It's better than using a taxi, and I will continue to use Uber in my day to day life.

Uber is happy when its users see government regulations as evil and a hinderance.

[QUOTE=Kentz;51909277]taxi licenses are dumb[/QUOTE] Drug laws are dumb too but I don't go around breaking them willy nilly.

I'd be more happy to use taxis if they weren't so expensive, and the drivers not so shit. I mean fucks sake, one day I took a taxi and it cost me around $40-45 The same trip with an uber a week later cost me $30, and the ride was more comfortable.

[QUOTE=Kentz;51909277]taxi licenses are dumb[/QUOTE] I think driving licences and insurance are dumb. This gives me legal grounds to use data in order to evade police and drive without a licence and insurance. Oh wait, it doesn't. Fuck!!!

Taxis cost about $60 for a 20 minute drive here... I welcome Uber..

[QUOTE=DOCTOR LIGHT;51911045]I think driving licences and insurance are dumb. This gives me legal grounds to use data in order to evade police and drive without a licence and insurance. Oh wait, it doesn't. Fuck!!![/QUOTE] A taxi license isn't a driver's license.

Reminder that maybe if taxis and taxi drivers weren't so shit people might not be trying to find alternatives. Uber and alternatives like Lyft are just the free market working at its best.

Honestly? I'm supportive toward Uber in this. If people are concerned about background checks and licensing, then people still have that as an option. They're called taxis. Choice is a good thing.

[QUOTE=Araknid;51910991]I'd be more happy to use taxis if they weren't so expensive, and the drivers not so shit. I mean fucks sake, one day I took a taxi and it cost me around $40-45 The same trip with an uber a week later cost me $30, and the ride was more comfortable.[/QUOTE] Doesn't really matter, could easily have been the other way around. I've never come across a bad taxi driver or uncomfortable taxi. Would never pay some random dude with a taxi app though.

[QUOTE=gk99;51911254]Reminder that maybe if taxis and taxi drivers weren't so shit people might not be trying to find alternatives. Uber and alternatives like Lyft are just the free market working at its best.[/QUOTE] Eh I really don't think this argument holds water when Uber is so much cheaper than regular taxis (though I am talking about black cabs in the UK, your mileage might vary). Unless you are counting the price as a reason for considering taxis shit, in which case I agree. I'd still take the much cheaper option even if it was was a shitter service. But taxis are cheap because of mandatory licensing, insurance etc... so it is not really a fair playing field.

i welcome uber overthrowing taxi companies worldwide. if i want to get driven somewhere by just another random joe like myself and they want to give me a network to do this with, i should have that option. it's hard to consider it a taxi service when really it's just a network for untrained strangers to drive you places fuck taxi prices, especially here.

[QUOTE=StonedPenguin;51909023]Good. It's not the governments place to ban individuals from doing freelance work like driving for uber.[/QUOTE] Literally the only reasons Uber exists and still operates is because the laws governing their type of business either don't exist yet or are vague enough to allow it. No matter how you look at it, Uber is a taxi service. How the cost is calculated and paid may be a bit different but as a customer, the only thing that matters to you is getting from point A to point B for the lowest cost. The key difference is that they don't have employees as drivers, which is where most of the issues stand. If the regulations in place are much stricter for taxi companies which offer the exact same type of service, they surely won't be happy with that. Of course, these news aren't likely to make things easier for Uber, especially if they want their business model accepted and legalized.

[QUOTE=paul simon;51911796]Doesn't really matter, could easily have been the other way around. I've never come across a bad taxi driver or uncomfortable taxi. Would never pay some random dude with a taxi app though.[/QUOTE] In uber you can see the rating of drivers so you know whether you'll get someone good or shit

[QUOTE=DOCTOR LIGHT;51911045]I think driving licences and insurance are dumb. This gives me legal grounds to use data in order to evade police and drive without a licence and insurance. Oh wait, it doesn't. Fuck!!![/QUOTE] Except drivers licenses don't cost $357,000 a pop; or exist for the purpose of allowing the main existing establishment to financially bar any new competitors from entering their market; or were achieved through lobbying for legislation which makes it wholly impossible for said new competitors to profit from.

[QUOTE=Vodkavia;51909317]Considering Taxi certification comes with training, back ground checks and insurance for passengers no it's not. Uber should have been nipped in the bud legally.[/QUOTE] if my neighbors asks me to drive him somewhere, should it also be illegal for me to drive him?

[QUOTE=Kentz;51912411]if my neighbors asks me to drive him somewhere, should it also be illegal for me to drive himÜ[/QUOTE] Is your neighbour paying you?

[QUOTE=Rufia;51912479]Is your neighbour paying you?[/QUOTE] I get gas money for taking friends places out of my way. Am I breaking the law?