EU court backs French ban on Uber service

Uber has suffered another defeat at the European Court of Justice after judges upheld a French ban of its ride-sharing service UberPop.  

Unlike its other offerings, which use trained drivers with licences, UberPop connects customers with drivers who charge for rides but do not have any particular training, the Financial Times says.

The French government banned the service in 2015, saying it broke laws prohibiting taxi platforms from using unlicensed drivers carrying fewer than 10 passengers.

However, Uber appealed the decision, arguing that France should have notified the European Commission about legislation under which it faced criminal charges.

Yesterday’s ruling means member states can use criminal law to “prohibit and punish” illegal transport activities without informing regulators in Brussels.

It comes just a few months after the ECJ ruled that the ride-hailing app should be regulated like a traditional taxi company instead of a digital service, “opening it up to tougher transport national legislation”, the FT says.

Uber is facing the most turbulent times of its short history, after a world-conquering rise.

The company has been hit by a wave of sexism and bullying allegations, as well as disputes about the status of drivers and a US inquiry into its use of software to hide drivers from US officials.

In September, Transport for London refused to renew Uber’s licence to operate in the capital, criticising the tech giant for a “lack of corporate responsibility”. York and Sheffield have since followed suit.

Responding to the latest ruling, Uber said it is “appropriate to regulate services such as Uber” and pledged to “continue the dialogue” with authorities in European cities, according to AFP.