Report: Portland Was Uber's Proving Ground For Law-Evasion Software

New York Times uncovers new details in taxi company's war on city regulation.

Uber screens. (Jason Tester Guerrilla Futures)
By Corey Pein

The New York Times today reports new information about how Uber helped its drivers dodge code inspectors and regulators in Portland and cities around the world: using software called "Greyball."

The software, described to the Times by current and former Uber employees, populated the ride-sharing app with images of fake cars designed to trick inspectors at a time when Uber was operating in Portland without city approval.

As Times reporter Mike Isaac writes:

The Greyball "ghost cars" were part of what the Times portrays as a systemic campaign by Uber to avoid law enforcement.

The Portland City Council eventually relented and legalized Uber following a covert lobbying campaign that violated city regulations.

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