Lawsuit Claims The Uber Mobile App Scams Both Riders And Drivers

A class-action lawsuit against Uber claims that the ride-sharing company manipulated its mobile app to simultaneously short-change drivers and over-charge riders. Ars Technica reported:

"When a rider uses Uber's app to hail a ride, the fare the app immediately shows to the passenger is based on a slower and longer route compared to the one displayed to the driver. The software displays a quicker, shorter route for the driver. But the rider pays the higher fee, and the driver's commission is paid from the cheaper, faster route, according to the lawsuit.

"Specifically, the Uber Defendants deliberately manipulated the navigation data used in determining the fare amount paid by its users and the amount reported and paid to its drivers," according to the suit filed in federal court in Los Angeles."

Controversy surrounds Uber after several high-level executive changes, an investigative news report alleging a worldwide program to thwart oversight by local governments, and a key lawsuit challenging the company's technology.