- Tech
-
-
Tech
The gadgets, platforms, and software that make your digital life possible. if it bleeps, clicks or blinks, you’ll find it here.
-
Categories
-
-
Latest
- Pinterest is reportedly blocking vaccination searches Today 2:53 PM
- Nike’s self-lacing smart sneakers malfunction days after release Today 2:50 PM
- The simple way to connect Apple TV and HomePod Today 5:00 AM
- Did Elon Musk just host PewDiePie’s meme review? Tuesday 8:53 AM
- YouTube is fueling the rise in flat earth believers Monday 11:04 AM
-
-
-
- Internet Culture
-
-
Internet Culture
There’s a community for everyone online.
-
Categories
-
-
Latest
- The truth behind the anti-LGBTQ emoji controversy Today 1:37 PM
- John Mayer steps in to Photoshop Diplo’s Instagram Today 9:28 AM
- This Kickstarter needs $4,000 to digitally erase the rat from ‘The Departed’ Today 8:07 AM
- Bernie Sanders memes resurface after 2020 bid announcement Today 6:27 AM
- The ‘Well yes, but actually no’ meme is here to help you explain things Tuesday 12:07 PM
-
-
-
- Streaming
-
-
Streaming
You’ve cut the cord—now what?
-
Categories
-
-
Latest
- Stop exploiting the Jussie Smollett case to discredit LGBTQ hate crime victims Today 3:28 PM
- The best Netflix original movies of 2019 Today 3:20 PM
- Tristan Thompson disables Instagram comments after reports he cheated on Khloe Kardashian Today 11:25 AM
- HBO debuts trailer for controversial Michael Jackson doc ‘Leaving Neverland’ Today 10:46 AM
- Mother discovers YouTube Kids video that encourages self-harm Today 10:14 AM
-
-
-
- IRL
-
-
IRL
Where your off- and online identities collide.
-
Categories
-
-
Latest
- White woman berates Mexican restaurant manager for speaking Spanish 3 Years Ago
- Stop exploiting the Jussie Smollett case to discredit LGBTQ hate crime victims Today 3:28 PM
- The truth behind the anti-LGBTQ emoji controversy Today 1:37 PM
- Introducing ‘boner culture,’ this Gamergate blogger’s latest cause Today 11:16 AM
- Christian woman refuses to do taxes for lesbian married couple Today 10:43 AM
-
-
-
- Social
-
-
Social
If it happens online, it’s here.
-
Categories
-
-
Latest
- White woman berates Mexican restaurant manager for speaking Spanish 3 Years Ago
- In Pixar short ‘Kitbull,’ a cat and pit bull become unlikely friends 3 Years Ago
- Stop exploiting the Jussie Smollett case to discredit LGBTQ hate crime victims Today 3:28 PM
- The best Netflix original movies of 2019 Today 3:20 PM
- Pinterest is reportedly blocking vaccination searches Today 2:53 PM
-
-
-
- Bazaar
-
-
Bazaar
The Bazaar specializes in the stuff you don’t actually need…but you really, really want.
-
Categories
-
-
Latest
- Allow your wallet to be your spirit guide during this rad anime sale Tuesday 10:43 AM
- 14 artsy cartoon mugs that’ll help make your days more creative Monday 12:15 PM
- Get your nerd on with ThinkGeek’s Funko Pop B2G1 sale Monday 3:00 AM
- Play all your NES games in high def with the Hyperkin RetroN HD Tuesday 8:39 AM
- The Introvert Activity Book is perfect for those who find solace in alone time Monday 11:30 AM
-
-
-
- More
- Search
See all Editor's Picks →
See all Popular →
Represented by Complex Media, Inc. for advertising sales.
Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Ethics
Latest
- White woman berates Mexican restaurant manager for speaking Spanish 3 Years Ago
- In Pixar short ‘Kitbull,’ a cat and pit bull become unlikely friends 3 Years Ago
- Stop exploiting the Jussie Smollett case to discredit LGBTQ hate crime victims Today 3:28 PM
- The best Netflix original movies of 2019 Today 3:20 PM
- Pinterest is reportedly blocking vaccination searches Today 2:53 PM
- Nike’s self-lacing smart sneakers malfunction days after release Today 2:50 PM
- How to quickly get the Havoc weapon in Apex Legends Today 2:48 PM
- The truth behind the anti-LGBTQ emoji controversy Today 1:37 PM
- Tristan Thompson disables Instagram comments after reports he cheated on Khloe Kardashian Today 11:25 AM
- Introducing ‘boner culture,’ this Gamergate blogger’s latest cause Today 11:16 AM
- HBO debuts trailer for controversial Michael Jackson doc ‘Leaving Neverland’ Today 10:46 AM
- Christian woman refuses to do taxes for lesbian married couple Today 10:43 AM
- Political campaigns will be snooping on your phones in 2020 Today 10:43 AM
- How to get the first Apex Legends Twitch Prime pack for free Today 10:28 AM
- Mother discovers YouTube Kids video that encourages self-harm Today 10:14 AM
Uber faces class-action lawsuit over text campaign supporting Austin ballot measure
‘It is absurd to imagine that Uber paid individual, living persons…’
Earlier this week, Uber riders in Austin, Texas, took to social media to express their frustrations with the company’s intrusive outreach campaign for an upcoming special election that could determine the company’s fate in the city.
Another day, another text from @Uber. I am absolutely voting “no” on Prop 1. This campaign is getting ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/ynwSgXKtaB
— Susan (@sharpsusansharp) May 3, 2016
Hey @Uber: up yours pic.twitter.com/3JuiUT3Iet
— Austin Kleon (@austinkleon) May 3, 2016
.@Uber_ATX you do not have my permission to CALL & text me about PROP 1 just bc I was a driver & you have my number pic.twitter.com/z2CBYSmRQV
— Whitney (@whith) May 2, 2016

Screengrab via AndyYoungFilm/Facebook
“(Recipient’s name), this is (sender’s name) from Uber,” the texts say. “Ridesharing is on the ballot & early voting ends tomorrow! Can we count on your vote FOR Prop 1 to keep Uber in Austin?”
The measure in question would allow companies like Uber and Lyft to operate without conducting fingerprint-based background checks on their drivers. Early voting in Austin ended on Tuesday, May 3, and election day is Saturday, May 7.
For at least one Austin resident and activist, Uber has gone too far with its texts. On May 4, Melissa Cubria filed a class-action lawsuit against the company for its campaign.
The lawsuit alleges that Uber violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act by using “robo-texting” to encourage Austinites to vote in favor of the proposition.
The complaint reads:
“This class action lawsuit arises because Uber has violated the [TCPA] by robo-texting thousands of unwanted text messages to the cell phones of thousands of Uber users in Austin, Texas—all without the prior express consent of those receiving Uber’s text messages—as part of a political campaign by Uber to oppose mandates from the City of Austin which impose various background check procedures for Uber drivers.”
The TCPA restricts telephone solicitations by limiting the use of automatic dialing systems and artificial or prerecorded voice, text, and fax messages.
According to the lawsuit, some customer replies to text messages were met with responses that seemed to ignore the content of the customer’s message.
Additionally, when people called the number associated with the automated messages, they immediately heard a female voice recording that said, “We’re sorry. An application error has occurred. Goodbye.”
The Daily Dot attempted to call the numbers listed in the lawsuit (as well as numbers from text messages featured above) and heard the same voice recording.
The lawsuit based its claim that Uber used an autodialer—which would violate the TCPA—on the evidence of the identical text-message language, the unresponsive text replies, the unresponsive phone numbers, and the reasoning that “it is absurd to imagine that Uber paid individual, living persons to manually type and then manually send thousands (and perhaps tens of thousands) of individual text messages in support of a political campaign underway in Austin, Texas.”
Uber denied the lawsuit’s claims in a statement.
“We have taken great precaution to comply with applicable laws and believe the claims in this lawsuit are meritless,” the company said. “The announcement of this action at an anti-Prop 1 press conference also reveals how it was designed to unduly influence the election.”
Neither Cubria nor an Uber representative responded to requests for comment.
According to Uber’s Terms and Conditions, users who create Uber accounts agree to let the company send them “informational text (SMS) messages as part of the normal business operation.”
If Prop 1 fails, both Uber and Lyft have vowed to leave the Austin market—earlier Thursday, Austin news station Fox 7 reported that Lyft told drivers it would leave Monday morning if the measure didn’t pass.
View the full complaint below.

Samantha Grasso
Samantha Grasso is a former IRL staff writer for the Daily Dot with a reporting emphasis on immigration. Her work has appeared on Los Angeles Magazine, Death And Taxes, Revelist, Texts From Last Night, Austin Monthly, and she has previously contributed to Texas Monthly.