The New York State Comptroller’s Office has filed a shareholder proposal, on behalf of the New York State Common Retirement Fund, asking Uber to publish a report detailing how it addresses incidents of riders being sexually harassed or assaulted.
“For Uber to succeed, its users need to feel safe and not have a shred of doubt about using the service,” Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said. “The company should increase transparency about what it’s doing to protect riders from these horrifying incidents. Being open about the steps it’s taking is key to restoring customers’ trust and protecting the company’s reputation and value.”
According to the shareholder proposal, reports indicate that from 2017 to 2022, Uber received a report of sexual assault or misconduct in the U.S. nearly every eight minutes, totaling more than 400,000 reported incidents.
The large number of reported incidents has led to thousands of individual cases in state and federal courts alleging Uber failed to provide adequate safety measures for riders. The issue has also prompted investigations by the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology and Government Innovation, as well as the New Jersey Attorney General.
The New York State Common Retirement Fund, which holds approximately $240 million in Uber shares, is filing the proposal to encourage greater transparency and accountability regarding rider safety.
