Underreported | Uber has logged 400K sexual assault reports, court files show

Uber received reports of sexual assault or misconduct in the US nearly every eight minutes between 2017 and 2022, according to sealed court records.

The documents, reviewed by The New York Times, are part of a large-scale litigation against the company, and show that Uber logged 400,181 such reports in five years, a far higher figure than the company had previously disclosed.

Publicly, Uber has promoted itself as one of the safest transportation options, publishing safety reports and campaigns highlighting that 99.9% of trips occur without incident. But previously released safety reports disclosed 12,522 serious sexual assaults for the same period, without including all categories of incidents. Uber has not published similar data since 2022, and court filings indicate incident reports have increased.

Court records reveal internal approach

Court records indicate that Uber’s safety decisions were influenced by its focus on expanding its customer base, limiting legal exposure, and preserving its independent contractor model for drivers. According to The NYT, the classification lowers labor costs and limits oversight, as drivers are not bound by the same workplace rules as traditional employees.