Republicans query Uber over drivers allegedly transporting medicine

5 Republican members of the Home Vitality and Commerce Committee despatched a letter to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi on Thursday to lift issues about drivers for the corporate allegedly transporting unlawful medicine throughout the nation. 

GOP Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.), Gus Bilirakis (Fla.), Bob Latta (Ohio), Morgan Griffith (Va.) and Brett Guthrie (Ky.) mentioned within the letter that they’ve questions on how Uber is “preserving the integrity” of Uber Join, which permits individuals to ship gadgets with same-day supply.

The lawmakers famous {that a} 22-year-old lady named Alex Portillo died earlier this yr from fentanyl poisoning after receiving the drug by means of an Uber Join supply. 

They mentioned they’ve supported the event of recent applied sciences and the advantages that the gig financial system gives individuals, however famous that dangerous actors would possibly make the most of the service to ship dangerous merchandise to unaware recipients. 

The representatives mentioned that GOP members of the committee beforehand despatched letters to the heads of social media firms on their duty to deal with the unfold of fentanyl however that the “disaster” is not only restricted to the scope of such firms. 

“Simply as now we have requested social media firms to do their half to curb the sale of medication on their platforms, Uber should act to make sure Uber Join shouldn’t be used to move untracked shipments of illicit medicine to People,” they mentioned. 

The lawmakers requested that Khosrowshahi present a briefing to Uber workers and reply to a collection of questions by Jan. 5. 

They requested for info together with an evidence of the settlement phrases for members of Uber Join, the variety of accounts which were deactivated after transport packages with prohibited contents and what info from the sender and recipient Uber Join gathers.