Uber hires Hogan Lovells to probe data policies
Uber has hired Hogan Lovells to review its data policies, amid controversy surrounding its handling of users' private data.
It has hired a team of Hogan Lovells lawyers who will review and make recommendations on its data policy. The team will be led by Harriet Pearson, a partner at the law firm's Washington office, who specialises in privacy and cyber security.
Earlier this week the company confirmed it will investigate one of its New York executives for allegedly tracking a BuzzFeed reporter using its internal "God View" tool without her permission.
BuzzFeed reporter Johana Bhuiyan travelled to interview Uber's New York general manager Josh Mohrer. When she arrived, he said he had been tracking her, while pointing to this phone.
Uber came under fire after it was reported senior exec Emil Michael had suggested the company should hire researchers to dig up dirt on media critics.
According to the blog post:
Our business depends on the trust of the millions of riders and drivers who use Uber.
The trip history of our riders is important and we understand that we must treat it carefully and with respect, protecting it from unauthorised access.
The company had also published a clarification of its privacy policy on Tuesday.
It said there is a strict policy prohibiting all employees at every level from accessing a rider or driver's data. The only exception to this is for a limited set of "legitimate business purposes".