Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) took on ride-sharing company Uber Wednesday in a letter that accused the company of condoning “use of customers’ data for questionable purposes.”
Franken referenced reports that one senior Uber executive suggested digging up private information on journalists who criticized the company and another actually did track a journalist without her permission.
“The reports suggest a troubling disregard for customers’ privacy, including the need to protect their sensitive geolocation data,” he wrote.
The senator said that he had serious concerns about the “scope, transparency, and enforceability of Uber’s [privacy] policies.” He referenced the so-called “God View” tool that company employees can reportedly use to track the location of any driver or customer who has requested a ride as an example of the Uber’s “use of customers’ data for questionable purposes.”
“Moreover, it is unclear what steps, if any, you have taken to ensure that your policies are adequately communicated to all employees, contractors, and affiliates, and to ensure that such policies are fully enforced,” the senator added.
Franken requested that the company respond by Dec. 15 to questions clarifying its privacy policy.
Read the full letter below:
