Uber failures led to 2014 hack exposing 100k drivers' details

That November, Uber issued a public statement pledging it had a "strict policy prohibiting all employees at every level from accessing a rider or driver's data", the FTC recounted in its complaint. Uber also failed to incorporate an encryption security for personal user information. In January, Uber agreed to pay $20 million to the FTC to settle separate claims that it misled drivers about both potential earnings and the cost of leasing cars from the company. A former forensic investigator at the company alleged employees were using the app's "God view" tool to snoop on the ride histories of ex-lovers, acquaintances, and high-profile celebrities and politicians. But the system was active for less than a year, and for nine months after it was discontinued, employees once again had unfettered access to data. "It is further ordered that, in connection with its compliance with the Provision of this Order titled Mandated Privacy Program, Respondent must obtain initial and biennial assessments", the FTC document said in addition to ordering privacy assessments by a third party. However, according to the FTC, Uber stopped using that system within a year.

The FTC also investigated a massive data breach in May 2014 in which more than 100,000 names and license numbers of Uber drivers were stolen.

"We have significantly strengthened our privacy and data security practices since then and will continue to invest heavily in these programmes", an Uber representative said.

"This settlement provides an opportunity to work with the FTC to further verify that our programs protect user privacy and personal information", he said.

Uber agreed to institute a comprehensive privacy policy and undergo privacy audits to settle the allegations.

"We are pleased to bring the FTC's investigation to a close", a spokesperson for Uber said. It's another in a long string of missteps for the San Francisco-based company, which faces a separate federal investigation for allegedly using a phony app to block city inspectors from monitoring its service.

Under the new agreement with the FTC, Uber has to do some very simple things: stop "misrepresenting how it monitors internal access to consumers' personal information" and "misrepresenting how it protects and secures that data".

As part of its settlement, Uber is barred from misrepresenting how it monitors its riders' and drivers' data, as well as the ways it secures that information.

Melissa Krasnow, privacy partner at VLP Law Group LLP in Minneapolis, told Bloomberg BNA Aug. 15 that the FTC's "enforcement action makes clear that geolocation information is sensitive information for which reasonable security must be provided".

"Our order requires a culture of privacy sensitivity for Uber", Ohlhausen said on a call with reporters.

Related News:

17 August 2017

Oil slide stops at $48 as US stocks drop again
OPEC member Angola released a loading plan showing October exports were planned at a 13-month high. Aside from supply and demand, investors also closely followed developments in the U.S.

14 August 2017

Team for ODI series and T20 announced, Yuvraj Singh axed
Veteran all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has been dropped from the team, while youngster Shardul Thakur has been included in the team. Pandey was originally a part of the Champions Trophy squad but had to take a break due to an injury sustained during the IPL.

12 August 2017

NCP boycotts Opposition meeting called by Sonia Gandhi
His turnaround comes after Mrs Gandhi's party, the Congress, suggested that he had betrayed it in the recent Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat.
17 August 2017

Benchmark explains why they're suing Uber's Travis Kalanick
Other Uber shareholders led by Shervin Pishevar of Sherpa Capital have vehemently opposed Benchmark's lawsuit . Nevertheless, he doesn't think Uber's recent board troubles will be the company's downfall.

15 August 2017

Arsenal anxious Alexis Sanchez could revive attempts to leave this month
The Chile global is in the a year ago of his contract at the Emirates Stadium and is rumoured to be interested in a move away. He also dismissed media reports linking Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with Chelsea .

08 August 2017

Former Bear Jay Cutler will play football again
It also questions Cutler's $10 million base salary that could have gone toward extending contracts of players now on the roster. Cutler and journeyman backup Matt Moore will battle it out for the starting snaps as long as Tannehill's unavailable.
16 August 2017

Air Berlin files for insolvency but flights continue
The loan cash is expected to last for three months, the government said, after which the airline's future is uncertain. It added that two members of the board of directors, who joined after being nominated by Etihad, had resigned.

14 August 2017

Pentagon denies civilians killed in Afghanistan airstrike
The previous attack targeted a prayer ceremony, and the US similarly claimed that the praying civilians were "ISIS members". Officials added that because the vehicles were in the middle of nowhere "there was zero chance of civilian casualties".

10 August 2017

Israeli Retaliatory Airstrikes on Hamas Positions in Gaza Injure 4 Palestinians
According to the IDF, the rocket was launched from Gaza and landed in an open area, causing no injuries or damage. From the Gaza strip into Israel a rocket was sacked , reports the Times of Israel, citing the Israeli military.
14 August 2017

Pep Guardiola: Premier League players £20-£25m more expensive
With time running out, Arsenal needed some sort of miracle, and they got just that from Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud . On his super-sub role, he added: "That's a nice start, but obviously I prefer to be on the pitch".

11 August 2017

Lassa Fever: Ogun places patient under watch
Two persons infected with the disease have died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH ), Idi-Araba. This is coming barely four months after the state government declared the entire state Lassa fever free.

10 August 2017

Disney severs ties with Netflix to set up online offering
The new streaming services are a way to connect directly with consumers and take advantage of new viewing habits. Walt Disney aims to take a slice of the video streaming market with the launch of its very own service.