Uber Commits $5 Million To Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence Prevention (gizmodo.com)

Uber announced on Sunday that it's taking new steps toward preventing sexual assault and domestic violence, starting with a $5 million donation to its partners -- Raliance, National Network to End Domestic Violence, No More, Women of Color Network, Casa de Esperanza, A Call to Men, and The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs -- along with an employee training program and in-app messaging to educate riders and drivers. Gizmodo reports: "As a result of this ongoing collaboration we have begun to make important changes internally and will commit to use Uber's scope and visibility to help drive awareness, education, and prevention of sexual assault and domestic violence to millions globally," said Uber's announcement. Uber wrote on its blog that its technology "enhances safety for riders and drivers in ways that weren't possible before such as GPS tracking, the ability to share a trip with family and friends, and 24/7 support through the app." But the company has failed to adopt measures like more rigorous driver background checks, despite urging by lawmakers. The ride-sharing service left Austin altogether last year (along with Lyft) because it refused to fingerprint its drivers. Uber has argued that mandated fingerprinting is too burdensome. Advocates for fingerprinting argue that it helps ensure rider safety.

Comments

Where is the money coming from?

[drinkypoo]

I keep hearing that Uber is throwing away money to make their name. Is this another example of that, and if so, where did they get the cash? Or are they actually making money now? Last I heard they were maybe profitable in the US, but still just flushing money down the toilet in China.

And what about other types of violence?

[CustomSolvers2]

It would also be nice if they could work towards preventing violence and assaults of any kind regardless of their characteristics. Considering a specific type of violence or victims more protection-worthy is discriminatory, short-sighted and, if you wish, violent with respect to other people/situations.

People considering acceptable any form of violence because of whatever reason and even actively supporting those behaviours are the problem. It doesn't matter their gender, race, ideas or whether they are alone or part of a group (well... the second alternative seems much more coward and censurable). The only thing that matters is the distorted perception of those who think that can unilaterally impose their will into others, either physically or in any other way, without consequences. Violence and arbitrary impositions are usually the resources of egoist, fearful and insecure people, who don't respect others and expect their positions to prevail no matter what, and you can find people like this everywhere.

Re:And what about other types of violence?

[Anonymous Coward]

... people who'll be more likely to get convinced ...

Someone has decided that 40% of employees must be female and devotees run around madly when it's revealed that's not the case. I saw similar behaviour when communities had to be multi-cultural: In that case, the result was cultural isolation, in a large part, self-imposed; segregation; collapse of the community caused by segregation; gang-driven crime;a denial that subsequent gang violence was caused by said collapse.

It's about proving that society is doing the right thing, even when the people involved, hate it and suffer because of it.

IT insiders repeatedly notice there are better-paying office jobs, well-paying jobs that cater to female strengths, and a number of industries which do not receive similar criticism for having a shortage of male employees. No-one wants to hear those complaints.