Uber admits covering up 2016 hacking, avoids prosecution in U.S. settlement

By Jonathan Stempel

-Uber Applied sciences Inc on Friday accepted duty for masking up a 2016 information breach that affected 57 million passengers and drivers, as a part of a settlement with U.S. prosecutors to keep away from legal fees.

In coming into a non-prosecution settlement, Uber admitted that its personnel didn't report the November 2016 hacking to the U.S. Federal Commerce Fee, although the company had been investigating the ride-sharing firm’s information safety.

U.S. Legal professional Stephanie Hinds in San Francisco stated Uber waited a couple of yr to report the breach, after putting in new govt management who “established a powerful tone from the highest” relating to ethics and compliance.

Hinds stated the choice to not criminally cost Uber mirrored new administration’s immediate investigation and disclosures, and Uber’s 2018 settlement with the FTC to keep up a complete privateness program for 20 years.

The San Francisco-based firm can also be cooperating with the prosecution of a former safety chief, Joseph Sullivan, over his alleged position in concealing the hacking.

Uber didn't instantly reply to requests for remark.

Sullivan was initially indicted in September 2020. Prosecutors stated Sullivan organized to pay the hackers $100,000 in bitcoin and have them signal nondisclosure agreements that falsely acknowledged that they had not stolen information.

Uber had a bounty program designed to reward safety researchers who report flaws, however to not cowl up information thefts.

In September 2018, Uber paid $148 million to settle claims by all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., that it was too sluggish to reveal the hacking.

Uber shares closed down 93 cents at $23.30 on Friday. The non-prosecution settlement was disclosed after U.S. markets closed.

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