After a period of consideration, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has decided that Uber is a transport service, just like any other taxi company. There is lot to say about Uber's use of untrained, non-professional drivers and other abusive practices.
(Score: 2) by canopic jug on Thursday December 21 2017, @04:41PM
My own take on Uber is that is not as much a transportation service though I agree fully with the ECJ assesment of it being one. I see it instead as a rather brazen attempt to knock the bottom out of a market, one chosen not quite at random. Uber's riders only pay 41 percent of the full cost of each ride, with investors footing the remaining 59 percent [vice.com]. In other words, without the price dumping, Uber trips would cost more than double [reuters.com] what they do now. They have a time limit. If they can destroy the taxi market before the venture capital runs out, then they win more or less a monopoly. If the real taxis can hang on until the venture capital runs out, then Uber goes away, hopefully taking wannabees with them.
Anyway in some countries, driving a cab is a respectable profession and pays at least a livable wage. In other countries, neither. Uber brings down both.
Money is not free speech. Elections should not be auctions.