Uber Faces Scrutiny Over 400,000 Sexual Misconduct Reports Between 2017 and 2022
Between 2017 and 2022, Uber received over 400,000 reports of sexual assault or misconduct in the US, averaging roughly one incident every eight minutes, according to internal documents. The company had previously disclosed only 12,522 cases of serious sexual assaults during the same period. The findings come from sealed court records and interviews with current and former employees involved in large-scale litigation against Uber.
Uber’s US head of safety, Hanna Nilles, stated that no level of sexual assault is acceptable. She noted that about 75 percent of the reports involved less severe incidents, such as inappropriate comments, flirting, or explicit language. However, the company had not audited these reports, leaving room for potential inaccuracies or fraudulent claims.
Despite marketing itself as one of the safest travel options, Uber has been criticized for failing to implement measures that could enhance passenger safety. The company reportedly avoided pairing female passengers with female drivers, rejected in-car surveillance cameras, and opted against advanced matching algorithms—all to preserve its business model, which classifies drivers as independent contractors rather than employees.
The report highlights cases where drivers with prior complaints remained on the platform and later committed sexual assaults. Uber also shelved a feature matching female drivers with female passengers, fearing it could fuel cultural debates and impact business.
Uber maintains that 99.9 percent of its US rides occur without incident, emphasizing the rarity of assaults given the millions of daily trips. Still, the revelations underscore ongoing concerns about the company’s prioritization of growth over passenger safety. The findings add to previous criticisms of Uber’s corporate culture and handling of misconduct.
