LPHCA expresses “dismay” at Uber data breach and backs TfL licence refusal decision

The Licensed Private Hire Car Association has reaffirmed its support for Transport for London’s decision to deny Uber a private hire operator licence in London.

The revelation that 2.7 million British Uber customers and drivers – and a total of 57 million worldwide – were affected by a 2016 data breach that Uber covered up for more than a year, is the latest in a string of poor practices of Uber, which compromise the safety of the travelling public.

LPHCA chairman Steve Wright said: “The LPHCA has long held grave concerns about Uber and its operating practices.  It is therefore with further dismay we learned of a data breach, in which the personal information of drivers and customers was stolen, had gone unreported by Uber in 2016.”

Wright said the data breach cover-up followed previous allegations of passenger fare exploitation, criticism for failing to report serious crimes, questions over criminal record checks, potential blocking of regulatory access to its software and a successful prosecution for its use of an uninsured vehicle.

He added: “Each new incident will, we are sure, reinforce and justify TfL’s decision not to renew Uber’s licence. Modernisation of transport services is, we accept, a necessary progressive step but it should not risk the reputation of the wider private hire trade or be permitted to the detriment of security and public safety.”