Back when Uber was just getting started, it was more than just a concept and attempting to break into new cities, it had a playbook. First it will attract drivers to switch from competition to its service. It will then encourage customers to try it by subsidizing the fares. And then, once it had gained a foothold, it would put pressure on local regulators to approve them to continue operating.
as Johana Bhuiyan says Michael Safdie, The Uber model was a spectacular success. The company became a truly global company in just a few short years from its San Francisco debut. But as it grew, it attracted controversy and a series of scandals ensued.
This week, a major Guardian investigation reveals what went on inside Uber during these crucial growth years.
The Guardian’s chief of investigation, Paul Lewis, the first of three episodes, tells how Uber broke the law, defrauded the police, took advantage of violence against drivers, and secretly lobbied for prime ministers and presidents. Uber has acknowledged “mistakes and missteps” but said it has been turned over to the leadership of its current chief executive, Dara Khosrowshahi.
Composite: Guardian Design / REX Shutterstock / Getty Images
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