History of Uber Files in Timeline

The Uber Files, leaked in 2022, expose Uber's controversial practices between 2013 and 2017. The files reveal aggressive lobbying of political figures like George Osborne, Olaf Scholz, Joe Biden, and Emmanuel Macron to circumvent regulations. Tactics included the 'greyball' tool to evade law enforcement and a 'kill switch' to hide data during raids. Former CEO Travis Kalanick disregarded safety concerns, even suggesting violence against Uber drivers protesting in France was 'worth it'. The leak, initiated by former executive Mark MacGann, highlights ethical and legal questions surrounding Uber's global expansion.

2013: Start of Uber Activities Documented in Leaked Files

In 2013, the Uber Files document the start of Uber's activities across approximately 40 countries. These files offer a glimpse into the company's global expansion and strategies during this period, continuing up until 2017.

December 2014: Uber Hires Avisa Partners to Manipulate Public Debate

In December 2014, Uber hired Avisa Partners, known as iStrat, to manipulate public debate in favor of Uber. iStrat published 19 fake articles on 13 websites while a legal case concerning UberPop was being considered by the Tribunal de commerce de Paris.

December 2014: Passenger Assaulted in Uber Cab in New Delhi

In December 2014, a passenger was assaulted in an Uber cab by its driver in New Delhi. Following this incident, Uber was temporarily withdrawn and then forced to manage operations through an Indian subsidiary, facing disputes with regulatory bodies.

2014: Macron Met with Uber Officials

In 2014, Emmanuel Macron met with Uber officials, which later became a subject of scrutiny. He expressed pride in supporting the company and stated he would continue to do so.

2016: Macron Met with Uber Officials

In 2016, Emmanuel Macron met with Uber officials, which later became a subject of scrutiny. He expressed pride in supporting the company and stated he would continue to do so.

2017: Uber Ceased Using Greyball

In 2017, Uber announced that it stopped using the Greyball tool. Greyball had been used to evade law enforcement by presenting a fake version of the Uber app to selected individuals, including local police.

2017: End of Uber Activities Documented in Leaked Files

In 2017, the Uber Files document the end of the period of Uber's activities across approximately 40 countries. These files offer a glimpse into the company's global expansion and strategies during this period, after starting in 2013.

July 2022: Uber Files Leaked

In July 2022, the Uber Files, a database of Uber's activities from 2013 to 2017, were leaked by former senior executive Mark MacGann and published by The Guardian. The database was shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and other media outlets, revealing internal communications and documents.