New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli has submitted a shareholder proposal urging Uber to disclose how it is addressing incidents of sexual harassment and assault involving its riders. The proposal, made on behalf of the New York State Common Retirement Fund, requests that Uber publish a report detailing its efforts in this area.
“For Uber to succeed, its users need to feel safe and not have a shred of doubt about using the service,” 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 information included in DiNapoli’s proposal, published reports indicate that between 2017 and 2022, Uber received a report of sexual assault or misconduct in the United States nearly every eight minutes. This amounts to more than 400,000 reported incidents over that period.
These reports have led to thousands of lawsuits in state and federal courts accusing Uber of lacking adequate safety measures for riders against sexual misconduct. Additionally, investigations into the issue have been launched by the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology and Government Innovation as well as by the Attorney General of New Jersey.
The New York State Common Retirement Fund currently holds approximately $240 million worth of shares in Uber.
More details on the shareholder proposal can be found at NYS Common Retirement Fund Shareholder Proposal at Uber Technologies.
