Uber will keep its Asian headquarters in Singapore for now in view of regulatory uncertainty for thwarting a mooted shift to Hong Kong.

The company announced massive layoffs in May due to the coronavirus, and said it was ready to move its regional base to the semi-autonomous Chinese city if there was progress on regulation there.

The decision comes in the wake of China imposing a controversial national security law on Hong Kong -- although Uber did not mention the legislation in its announcement.

Uber has been operating in Hong Kong for several years despite not being legal there and facing strong resistance from the local taxi industry.

Announcing its decision, Uber said in a statement it had "seen strong public support for reform (in Hong Kong), but not the level of certainty from the government that we need".

"We have decided to keep Singapore as a regional hub for the medium term," the statement added.

Its Asian headquarters will remain in Singapore until the end of 2022, at the earliest. Its office in the city-state has about 90 employees.

The San Francisco-based company has not operated ride-hailing or food delivery services in Singapore since 2018, when it sold its Southeast Asian businesses to rival Grab.

Uber will keep its Asian headquarters in Singapore for now in view of regulatory uncertainty for thwarting a mooted shift to Hong Kong. The company announced massive layoffs in May due to the coronavirus, and said it was ready to move its regional base to the semi-autonomous Chinese city if there was progress on regulation there.

Uber will keep its Asian headquarters in Singapore for now in view of regulatory uncertainty for thwarting a mooted shift to Hong Kong. The company announced massive layoffs in May due to the coronavirus, and said it was ready to move its regional base to the semi-autonomous Chinese city if there was progress on regulation there. The decision comes in the wake of China imposing a controversial national security law on Hong Kong -- although Uber did not mention the legislation in its announcement. Uber has been operating in Hong Kong for several years despite not being legal there and facing strong resistance from the local taxi industry. Announcing its decision, Uber said in a statement it had "seen strong public support for reform (in Hong Kong), but not the level of certainty from the government that we need". "We have decided to keep Singapore as a regional hub for the medium term," the statement added. Its Asian headquarters will remain in Singapore until the end of 2022, at the earliest. Its office in the city-state has about 90 employees. The San Francisco-based company has not operated ride-hailing or food delivery services in Singapore since 2018, when it sold its Southeast Asian businesses to rival Grab.

Uber keeps Asia HQ in Singapore, ditching Hong Kong move

A group of Uber drivers in UK has filed a legal suit demanding company to reveal how it uses its algorithm to manage their work.&nbsp;

The UK-based App Drivers and Couriers Union filed the case on Monday in the district court in Amsterdam, where the international headquarters of the cab-booking app is located.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/black-lives-matter-uber-eats-to-feature-black-owned-restaurants-in-us-and-canada-303457#:~:text=To%20help%20in%20this%20cause,owned%20specifically%20by%20Black%20people.&amp;text=The%20feature%20was%20launched%20on,of%20this%20year%2C%20for%20now.">Black lives matter: Uber Eats to feature Black-owned restaurants in US and Canada</a>

The union demanded transparency from Uber to check whether the company was discriminating or unequally treating between drivers.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/after-ola-ride-hailing-firm-uber-lays-off-600-employees-in-india-301070">After Ola, ride-hailing firm Uber lays off 600 employees in India</a>

Anton Ekker, the Amsterdam-based privacy lawyer who is heading the case says it's "about the distribution of power".&nbsp;

"It’s about Uber exerting control through data and automated decision-making and how it is blocking access to that," he said, reported Guardian.&nbsp;

"The app decides millions of times a day who is going to get what ride: who gets the nice rides; who gets the short rides. But this is not just about Uber. The problem is everywhere. Algorithms and data give a lot of control but the people who are subject to it are often no longer aware of it."

The complaint says Uber tags drivers' profiles with words such "inappropriate behaviours", "police tag", "professionalism" and the results of these attributes on which the drivers are judged are not provided to them.&nbsp;

The union argues they have a right to access general data protection regulations (GDPR) which Uber has failed to provide them. They want to know the data of how the drivers' profiling is done, which includes behaviour, location or movements, among others.&nbsp;

 
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A group of Uber drivers in UK has filed a legal suit demanding company to reveal how it uses its algorithm to manage their work. The UK-based App Drivers and Couriers Union filed the case on Monday in the district court in Amsterdam, where the international headquarters of the cab-booking app is located.

A group of Uber drivers in UK has filed a legal suit demanding company to reveal how it uses its algorithm to manage their work. The UK-based App Drivers and Couriers Union filed the case on Monday in the district court in Amsterdam, where the international headquarters of the cab-booking app is located. Also read | Black lives matter: Uber Eats to feature Black-owned restaurants in US and Canada The union demanded transparency from Uber to check whether the company was discriminating or unequally treating between drivers. Also read | After Ola, ride-hailing firm Uber lays off 600 employees in India Anton Ekker, the Amsterdam-based privacy lawyer who is heading the case says it's "about the distribution of power". "It’s about Uber exerting control through data and automated decision-making and how it is blocking access to that," he said, reported Guardian. "The app decides millions of times a day who is going to get what ride: who gets the nice rides; who gets the short rides. But this is not just about Uber. The problem is everywhere. Algorithms and data give a lot of control but the people who are subject to it are often no longer aware of it." The complaint says Uber tags drivers' profiles with words such "inappropriate behaviours", "police tag", "professionalism" and the results of these attributes on which the drivers are judged are not provided to them. The union argues they have a right to access general data protection regulations (GDPR) which Uber has failed to provide them. They want to know the data of how the drivers' profiling is done, which includes behaviour, location or movements, among others.

Drivers approach court demanding Uber to disclose algorithm

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Uber keeps Asia HQ in Singapore, ditching Hong Kong move

Drivers approach court demanding Uber to disclose algorithm