TechUber Has a Sexual Assault Problem That It's Not SolvingDisclaimer: This story mentions sexual assault. What's going on: Women know the rideshare safety rules: Check the plate, confirm the driver, and match the car. But that’s not always enough. Between 2017 and 2022, Uber received a report of sexual assault or misconduct every eight minutes — averaging 180 per day, according to court documents tied to a massive class-action lawsuit. The documents, obtained by The New York Times, allege Uber repeatedly failed to act on safety concerns. The company tested a number of tools, including video recordings of rides and optional same-gender driver pairings. But Uber delayed their rollout or just didn’t enforce drivers to implement the safety measures — prioritizing its profits and reputation instead, according to the NYT. Part of the problem is that Uber drivers are considered independent contractors, which limits what the company can require or enforce. In one case, a woman was assaulted after some of these tools were introduced, and Uber’s safety notification system failed to help, per the NYT. What it means: Uber isn’t the only rideshare company with a sexual assault problem — but it’s one of the biggest. Reports of assault have increased alongside ridership, and some Uber employees say the real numbers could be higher, as riders may be too afraid to speak out if the driver knows their address. There’s a pattern to these incidents: Most victims are women. Most attacks happen late at night, often near bars. And the accused offenders are often men with prior complaints and low ratings. Still, the company says there’s no single feature that could “prevent unpredictable incidents.” But a good starting point might be obvious: Stop letting people with a record of misconduct drive in the first place. Related: Apple’s CEO Gifts Trump 24K Gold and Announces $100B in New US Investments (CBS News) | 
