"A maxi-collection of confidential files revealed how tech giant Uber violated laws, deceived police, exploited violence against taxi drivers and covertly lobbied governments during its aggressive global expansion."
The investigation, published by a consortium of international media, including the Guardian, sheds light on co-founder Travis Kalanick's unscrupulous ways to make the company a leader in the transportation industry by disrupting the taxi industry.
Being able to count on high level support, such as Emmanuel Macron when he was Minister of the Economy, and the former European Commissioner Neelie Kroes.
The more than 124,000 internal documents obtained by the Guardian cover a period of five years, in which Uber was managed by Kalanick,
then forced to resign in 2017 by the shareholders precisely because of his unscrupulous actions.
In the gigantic lobbying effort, the company allegedly sought to gain support by "discreetly courting" prime ministers, presidents, billionaires, oligarchs and media tycoons.
Macron in particular would have provided "spectacular help", according to what emerges from the documents.
The Guardian recalls that Paris in 2014 was the scene of the first European launch of Uber, which met with stiff resistance from the taxi industry, culminating in violent protests in the streets.
And in the documents analyzed are messages between Kalanick and Macron, who would secretly help the company in France when he was Minister of Economy, allowing Uber frequent and direct access to him and his staff.
In particular, despite the fact that the courts and parliament had banned Uber, Macron - writes the Guardian - agreed to work with the company to reform the laws of the sector.
And he signed a decree that eased the licensing requirements for private transport drivers.
The files also reveal how the
Former EU commissioner for digital Neelie Kroes was in talks to join Uber before her term ended in November 2014, and then secretly lobbied the company, in potential violation of European ethical standards.
There is also a twist that concerns Joe Biden, when he was vice president of the United States.
When Kalanick arrived late for a meeting with the company at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he texted a colleague: "I let my folks know that every minute late is one minute less he will have with me."
And after meeting Kalanick, Biden would change his prepared speech in Davos by praising the company.
There is also an Italian twist in the Uber Files investigation.
'Italy - Operation Renzi' - reveals L'Espresso - is the code name of a pressure campaign, from 2014 and 2016, with the aim of engaging and influencing the then Prime Minister and some ministers and parliamentarians of the Democratic Party .
In the mails of American managers, Matteo Renzi is defined as "an enthusiastic supporter of Uber".
To approach Renzi, Uber used, in addition to its lobbyists, institutional personalities such as John Phillips, United States ambassador to Rome in those years.
But the leader of Italia Viva explained that he had "never personally followed" the issues of taxis and transport.
And in any case his government - stated L'Espresso - has not approved any provision in favor of the Californian giant.
Uber, commenting on the whole affair, admitted that "mistakes and missteps" were made, but clarified that the company has transformed since 2017, after Kalanick's departure, with its current CEO. Dara Khosrowshahi.
"We will not make excuses for past behavior that is clearly not in line with our current values," she said.
"Instead, we ask the public to judge us by what we have done in the last five years and by what we will do in the years to come."
he admitted that "mistakes and missteps" had been made, but made it clear that the company has transformed since 2017, after Kalanick's departure, with its current CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi.
"We will not make excuses for past behavior that is clearly not in line with our current values," she said.
"Instead, we ask the public to judge us by what we have done in the last five years and by what we will do in the years to come."
he admitted that "mistakes and missteps" had been made, but made it clear that the company has transformed since 2017, after Kalanick's departure, with its current CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi.
"We will not make excuses for past behavior that is clearly not in line with our current values," she said.
"Instead, we ask the public to judge us by what we have done in the last five years and by what we will do in the years to come."
