Tech Brew Ride Home Thu. 09/12 - Uber: We're NOT in the Ride Hailing Business!
Sep 12, 2019
Uber claims it’s not in the ride-hailing business to avoid California's contractor law, sparking debate over worker classification. Meanwhile, France vows to block Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency, raising concerns about monetary control. Tech updates include Slack introducing a dark mode for accessibility and Amazon's Alexa allowing crowd-sourced answers. Health innovation shines with Healthy.io's mobile urine tests, and the podcast wraps up with tantalizing news about an exoplanet that could point to extraterrestrial life.
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Uber's Core Business Argument
- Uber argues that its drivers aren't core to its business and thus not subject to AB5.
- They claim their true business is providing a platform for digital marketplaces, not ride-hailing.
The 'ABC Test' Argument
- Uber's legal team uses the "ABC test" to argue for their drivers' independent contractor status.
- They claim drivers operate outside their usual business, which they define as a technology platform.
France's Potential Libra Block
- France's finance minister says they might block Libra in the EU, citing a threat to monetary sovereignty.
- Blocking Libra in the EU, a large market, could make the project unviable.