Pressure mounts on Uber France as two executives are arrested

[midian182]

French media outlets today reported that two senior Uber executives have been taken into police custody in Paris as part of a probe into the company's UberPOP service. The pair are believed to be Uber Europe CEO Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty and Uber France CEO Thibaud Simphal. French business news channel BFMTV reports that the executives are suspected of "inciting undeclared work."

The news comes after several nationwide anti-Uber protests by French taxi drivers turned violent last week. Taxi unions argue that because Uber drivers don't have to pay the same steep licensing fees as French cabbies, the company has an unfair competitive advantage over them.

Even though UberPOP was effectively banned in France in January, the service has been allowed to continue after a Paris appeals court declined to rule on its legality in March. A constitutional court is expected to issue a final decision on UberPOP's legal status in September.

While it's claimed today's arrests are not directly linked to last week's protests, French officials have toughened their stance against Uber following the strikes. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve announced earlier today that 200 extra police specifically charged with cracking down on illegal taxi activities would be deployed in Paris.

Uber had this to say regarding the arrests:

"Two representatives of Uber today went voluntarily to a police hearing that is part of a on-going legal proceeding. Uber is always willing to work with authorities to overcome possible misunderstandings."

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https://www.techspot.com/news/61158-pressure-mounts-uber-france-two-executives-arrested.html

 

[Greg S]

Just your typical anti-capitalism arguments going on in Europe... nothing of real interest since it's just lawyers making more money and then having more taxes generated in the process.

 

[umbala]

It's incredible that in 2015 this type of thing is allowed to happen. The French authorities are basically giving in to terrorist attacks and further threats of violence from the taxi cartels. There's a better, faster, and cheaper way to do something, but hey since there's a well established local Mafia desperately clinging to the old way, let's take their side! Violence never solves anything, unless you live in France... oh wait.

 

[sdms96825]

"inciting undeclared work"

WTF?

 

[RustyTech]

"inciting undeclared work"

WTF?

That's what I though..Whaaaaaat!??
However, I can translate: We have no flipping idea what to charge these people with since all they're doing is providing a needed service, but since all the taxi cabs have revolted and stopped padding our pockets, we have to take some sort of action to protect our alternative revenue stream.

 

[Tanstar]

Taxi drivers destroy public and private property during their "protest" (should be called "mob rioting"), so the French authorities punish the other side of the conflict? So bizarre. Might be time for another Revolution over there, guys!