π The Uber Files
Amid taxi strikes and riots in Paris, Kalanick ordered French executives to retaliate by encouraging Uber drivers to stage a counter-protest with mass civil disobedience.
Warned that doing so risked putting Uber drivers at risk of attacks from βextreme right thugsβ who had infiltrated the taxi protests and were βspoiling for a fightβ, Kalanick appeared to urge his team to press ahead regardless. βI think itβs worth it,β he said. βViolence guarantee[s] success. And these guys must be resisted, no? Agreed that right place and time must be thought out.β
The Guardian take a dive into the decisions that led to where Uber is today. This is unpacked further in three podcasts, including an interview with Mark MacGann about the decision to blow the whistle.