Jul 11, 2022

Uber Files: Tech firm lobbied top ministers at undeclared meetings

Leaked files reveal how Uber lobbied top ministers at undeclared meetings while fighting restrictions to its ride-hailing service in the UK.Documents show then-London mayor Boris Johnson was "The ultimate target" of the lobbying strategy. A vast cache of 124,000 internal Uber records leaked to the Guardian and shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and BBC Panorama, reveal how Uber lobbied top politicians for support as the firm bid to disrupt Europe's taxi industry and secure access to the lucrative UK market. An internal Uber strategy document in 2014 identified London as "Critical" to the firm's success and Mr Johnson as "The ultimate target" of Uber's influence campaign. The files show Uber had continued targeting top Tories, as well as Labour and Lib Dem MPs.That December, in a meeting that was declared, Sajid Javid met executives from Uber who reported that he was "Clearly a supporter". The Uber Files is a leak of 124,000 records including emails and texts exposing conversations and meetings between Uber executives and public officials as the technology-driven taxi firm sought to expand its business.

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