Documents leaked by an Uber insider to The Guardian indicated the company could be responsible for widespread corporate deception.
The recent report by The Guardian indicated that career lobbyist Mark MacGann has come forward to identify himself as the source of the materials, saying Uber knowingly skirted laws in multiple countries.
MacGann, who claims to have been the leader of Uber’s efforts to win over prominent political figures, says the company targeted government officials in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
According to the lobbyist, the company has misled people about the benefits his former company offers to drivers in the gig-economy model.
MacGann asserted that between 2014 and 2016 he was part of the decision-making process when the company was pushing its way into markets where it violated taxi-licensing laws.
The confidential documents reportedly leaked by MacGann indicate that Uber attempted to dupe police and even exploit violence against drivers.
The former company lobbyist says he oversaw the company’s attempts to win over entire governments to amend their taxi regulations in favor of their business model in some 40 countries.
MacGann did acknowledge that he was part of the Uber leadership at the time but says he does not believe he is primarily to blame for the problems.
“I am partly responsible,” MacGann said. “I was the one talking to governments, I was the one pushing this with the media, I was the one telling people that they should change the rules because drivers were going to benefit and people were going to get so much economic opportunity.”
The former Uber lobbyist indicated his frustration began when he discovered the company was lying to the public about how its drivers were treated.
“I regret being part of a group of people which massaged the facts to earn the trust of drivers, of consumers, and of political elites,” MacGann said.
The remorseful former executive went on to say, “I should have shown more common sense and pushed harder to stop the craziness. It is my duty to [now] speak up and help governments and parliamentarians right some fundamental wrongs. Morally, I had no choice in the matter.”