The recent leak of 124,000 confidential Uber documents has shed light on some of the ethically questionable activities that have arguably helped fuel the ride-hailing company’s global rise. Among allegations of law breaking and the secret lobbying of government figures, the “Uber files” show that the company paid academics to produce research on the company – often co-authored with Uber’s own employees. While of course not illegal, this raises questions about the role of academics and research in corporate lobbying.
The files and messages, leaked to The Guardian, appear to show that Uber used this research to push a positive narrative about the company and to argue against regulation. One study published in 2016, co-authored with an Uber employee, suggested that Uber provided a way for poor youth in France to escape unemployment. It found that this group would become “highly vulnerable” if action was taken against drivers who violated licensing rules.
