Dear Uber drivers: As its Spotify tie-up launches, you’re going to hear way more Kate Bush, One Direction – and Kirsty MacColl November 21, 2014 The tie-up between Spotify and Uber launches today, meaning anyone who gets in an Uber cab can listen to their own tunes. The system works using a feature inside Uber's app which connects to the driver's phone. As long as it is plugged into the sound system, it allows passengers to determine what plays over [...]
Uber hires Hogan Lovells to probe data policies November 21, 2014 Uber has hired Hogan Lovells to review its data policies, amid controversy surrounding its handling of users' private data. It has hired a team of Hogan Lovells lawyers who will review and make recommendations on its data policy. The team will be led by Harriet Pearson, a partner at the law firm's Washington office, who [...]
Ashton Kutcher weighs into Uber spying debacle November 20, 2014 Actor-turned-Demi Moore toyboy-turned-tech investor, Ashton Kutcher gave his tuppence worth to the Uber spying story yesterday. The Dude, Where’s My Car star tweeted, “What is so wrong about digging up dirt on shady journalist?” The reaction from the twittersphere was swift, and it was hard. “Dude Where’s My Orwell,” was one particularly good retort. What [...]
Taxi app wars: Uber vs Hailo vs Maaxi vs Lyft – Emil Michael gaff is latest hurdle in startup battle November 19, 2014 Fast-growing “ridesharing” app firm Uber hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons again this week as senior executive Emil Michael was reported suggesting the company hire researchers to dig up dirt on its media critics. The blunder is the latest in a long line of controversies that have plagued the startup over [...]
Uber investor Ashton Kutcher: ‘What is so wrong about digging up dirt on journalists?” November 19, 2014 Actor and sometime tech VC Ashton Kutcher – who also happens to have a stake in Uber – has come out strongly in support of the taxi app in a rant on Twitter. Kutcher, who also has stakes in Spotify, Airbnb and Foursquare, according to Crunchbase, came out in apparent support of executive Emil Michael, [...]
Uber New York executive allegedly “tracked BuzzFeed journalist using God View tool” November 19, 2014 Troubles are mounting for taxi app company Uber after it confirmed it will investigate one its New York executives for allegedly tracking a Buzzfeed journalist without her permission. If true, the tracking would be in violation of Uber's own privacy policy, released on Tuesday. Earlier this month, BuzzFeed reporter Johana Bhuiyan travelled to interview Uber's [...]
Uber boss Travis Kalanick sorry over inhumane dirt-digging row November 18, 2014 The chief executive of Uber, Travis Kalanick, issued a grovelling apology on Twitter yesterday after a senior member of his team said the company should dig up dirt on hostile journalists to retaliate for bad publicity. Kalanick branded the comments made by senior vice president for business at the ride-sharing company Emil Michael “terrible”, adding: [...]
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick insists company is principled after executive threatens journalists November 18, 2014 Uber CEO Travis Kalanick is adamant the company is “principled” and a “positive member of the community” after a senior executive threatened to “dig dirt” on critcal journalists. Emil Michael, senior vice-president of business at Uber, said that the taxi app should “spend a million dollars” to hire a team of researches to dig [...]
Uber executive under fire after threatening to ‘dig dirt’ on journalists November 18, 2014 An executive at taxi app Uber has hit headlines after threatening to dig up dirt on journalists that had provided negative media coverage of the taxi app. Emil Michael, a senior vice president, said that Uber should spend a million dollars on a team of researchers and journalists to help Uber fight back against negative [...]
Uber’s in-car Spotify tie-up launches in London on Friday November 17, 2014 In a move which will surely prompt a rash of one-star ratings from irate Uber drivers tired of being subjected to death metal, the private hire cab app has announced it's teamed up with Spotify to allow passengers to stream their playlists through their cabs' soundsystems. In a joint press conference today, founders of the [...]