Uber Passengers Accusing Rape Send Letter to Board
Fourteen women who claim they were sexually assaulted or harassed by their Uber drivers have sent a letter to the ride-sharing company's board of directors asking to have their class-action lawsuit heard in court, instead of the forced closed-door arbitration as laid out in the app's terms and conditions.
In the letter, the women share their stories of being assaulted by drivers while riding in Ubers in Miami, Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Jose and Brooklyn from October 2016 to March 2018. Several of the accounts say the women's drivers forced their way into their homes, where they were raped and assaulted. Other accounts state that two of the women similarly woke up in the Uber to find their drivers "engaging in oral sex on me without my consent."
Yet another woman's account states a driver made inappropriate comments during the ride, and then he "pulled out his penis and masturbated during the ride." According to the woman, she has seen the same driver sitting in his car outside her apartment complex. "On two occasions, he has seen me and made a threatening gesture of sliding his thumb across his neck to imitate slicing my throat," the woman writes.
Earlier this week, Uber announced it would be launching a new pilot safety measure that obscures riders' exact pickup and drop-off locations from drivers' logs, showing only a general area instead, which would potentially help stop the drivers returning to drop-off sites to harass former passengers. Previously, riders' addresses would be stored in drivers' logs in the app indefinitely.
"Sexual assault has no place anywhere and we are committed to doing our part to end this violence," an Uber spokesperson told TPG in an email. Uber's CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has also said that the ride-hailing company would be taking a hard look at the issue and that it is important to the company.
Uber announced last week it would be adding new safety features to its app, including an emergency button that directly connects passengers with 911 and the ability for a passenger to share their ride status with family or friends, so they know when the ride has been safely completed. The company also said going forward, its drivers would undergo annual criminal background checks.
The letter asks Uber's 11-member Board of Directors to voluntarily release them from the arbitration provision in the app's consumer agreement. Under the provision, the women can speak out but the legal proceedings would be confidential. "Secret arbitration is the opposite of transparency," the women tell the board in the letter. "Forcing female riders, as a condition of using Uber's app, to pursue claims of sexual assault and rape in secret arbitration proceedings does not 'make streets safer,'" they write, quoting the company's own claim to the public that the ride-hailing app "help[s] improve access to transportation, and make streets safer."
The women also contend that since the beginning of the #MeToo movement last year, many companies are scrapping forced arbitration agreements in sexual harassment or assault cases, in favor in more transparent options.
H/T: Bloomberg
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees