Uber Tightens US Driver Checks, Removing 0.5% of Workforce After Assault Lawsuits
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 26
Uber Tightens US Driver Checks, Removing 0.5% of Workforce After Assault Lawsuits
3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 26
Summary
Starting Monday, Uber will retroactively apply tougher US background-check standards to current drivers and couriers, a move it says will remove tens of thousands of workers.
The company is expanding the list of disqualifying criminal convictions and will bar workers regardless of how long ago the offense occurred.
Uber said the overhaul is its latest response to a wave of passenger sexual-assault lawsuits; a New York Times investigation also found earlier rules let some drivers with violent convictions stay on the platform.
The removals amount to about 0.5% of Uber's active US workforce, underscoring the scale of the policy shift at a company that had 10 million drivers and couriers worldwide in April.
Will Uber's lifetime bans on drivers with old convictions truly enhance safety, or do they unfairly punish reformed individuals seeking work?
Beyond background checks, what fundamental flaw in the rideshare business model continues to put millions of passengers at risk every night?
Uber’s New Background Check Policy: Addressing Sexual Assaults and Industry-Wide Safety Demands in 2026
Overview
In June 2026, Uber enacted stricter background check policies for its drivers in response to mounting scrutiny from lawmakers, investors, and the public over rider safety and repeated reports of sexual violence. This major change was driven by investigations, including a New York Times report revealing that Uber received a sexual assault or misconduct report every eight minutes between 2017 and 2022, and that some drivers continued working despite complaints. Uber’s new policies mark a shift from its previous seven-year cutoff for felony convictions, reflecting growing legal and regulatory pressure to improve safety and accountability across the rideshare industry.