FBI Investigating Uber Over Software To Track Lyft Drivers

Uber is being investigated by the FBI over software it allegedly used

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by Brad Anderson

September 12, 2017 at 01:05

Uber is being investigated by the FBI over software it allegedly used to track Lyft drivers.

It is alleged that from 2014 to 2016, Uber used a ‘Hell’ program that allowed it to track Lyft drivers. The program saw Uber create fake ride accounts on Lyft and it was able to use these accounts to monitor how many Lyft drivers were available in select areas at specific times. If Uber found a shortage of Lyft drivers in an area, it could fill these gaps in real time with its own vehicles.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the FBI’s New York office is heading up the probe and has been joined by the Manhattan US attorney’s office.

It is reported that Uber’s ‘Hell’ program was also used to identify drivers using both Lyft and Uber and allowed the ride-hailing company to offer incentives to drivers to lure them away from Lyft.

In a statement provided to The Verge, an Uber spokesperson said “We are cooperating with the investigation.”