Australian women who say they were sexually assaulted or harassed by Uber drivers are being invited to share their experiences as lawyers examine the possibility of a class action.
Leading law firm Slater and Gordon has issued a public call-out while investigating whether Uber’s systems and policies provide adequate protection for female passengers.
The inquiry will assess how Uber responds to complaints about alleged sexual misconduct, sexual assault and sexual harassment by drivers once those concerns are reported.
Lawyers will also examine the company’s driver screening and monitoring processes, safety training, complaint-handling procedures and safety features built into the platform.
Roy Morgan data shows that more than 7.4 million Australians—almost one-third of the population—use Uber. The company accounts for about 80 per cent of the rideshare market.
Uber is already facing thousands of lawsuits in the United States after court litigation referred to company disclosures recording 400,181 reports of sexual assault or sexual misconduct linked to trips between 2017 and 2022.
The New York Times previously reported that Uber had disclosed 12,522 cases of serious sexual assault during the same period.
‘Women should be able to get home in an Uber safely, without being frightened or violated by the person behind the wheel, or left wondering whether anyone will listen and act,’ Slater and Gordon practice group leader Cindy Bors said.
The potential Australian class action investigation will consider how Uber responded to complaints about alleged driver sexual misconduct, sexual assault and sexual harassment (stock image)
Slater and Gordon practice group leader Cindy Bors is calling on women who were sexually assaulted or harassed by an Uber driver to register their interest in a possible class action
‘When a woman passenger reports or alleges sexual harassment, sexual misconduct or sexual assault involving an Uber driver, the systems receiving, investigating and responding to that report matter.’
No finding of liability has been made, and no class action has been filed at this stage.
Women can register their interest in the potential class action even if they did not previously report their experience to Uber or police.
‘Some people may have felt that their experience was not serious enough to report, or that reporting would not make a difference. We want to hear from women about what happened and how Uber responded,’ Ms Bors said.
‘We need to understand whether women’s experiences reveal common or systemic issues and whether a class action may be appropriate.’
The Daily Mail has approached Uber Australia for comment.
Uber told nine.com.au that it had not yet been served with any court proceedings.
‘Regardless of whether proceedings eventuate, we remain committed to listening to feedback, pushing harder, and innovating more to make every trip better and safer, every single day,’ a spokesperson said.
Taylor Mostacci was indecently assaulted by an Uber driver while travelling to a university ball in Canberra in 2021. The driver was later convicted
Slater and Gordon is seeking information as it investigates whether Uber’s systems and policies adequately protect female passengers (stock image)
‘Safety is a core value at Uber, and we have invested billions of dollars and countless hours to protect the safety of users during trips.’
Research released by the NSW government earlier this year found more than one in four women had experienced inappropriate or offensive behaviour while using rideshare services and taxis.
It prompted an overhaul of driver training, complaint handling and incident response guidelines.
Canberra woman Taylor Mostacci, then 19, was indecently assaulted by an Uber driver on the way to a university ball in 2021.
A complaint to Uber resulted in the driver’s account being initially suspended before it was later reactivated when he denied the allegations.
Ms Mostacci then reported the incident to police, which resulted in the driver being convicted last year.
‘He touched my breasts and I just froze,’ she told Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes in an episode set to air this Sunday.
‘I’ll never risk being in an Uber by myself. Uber has a responsibility to take care of its customers, and it has a responsibility to protect us, to look after us.’
If you or someone you know needs support, contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.