Uber ordered to pay historic $148 million fine for 2016 data breach
Uber has agreed to pay a record $148 million settlement over a massive data breach that occurred in 2016, in what is seen as a major step towards holding companies accountable for failing to protect their customers’ sensitive information.
The breach, which affected approximately 57 million Uber users and drivers, was kept hidden from regulators and the public for over a year before being disclosed in November 2017. The breach involved the theft of names, email addresses, and phone numbers of users, as well as the driver’s license numbers of approximately 600,000 drivers in the United States.
The payment of $148 million settlement is the largest penalty ever paid by a company for a data breach, highlighting the severity of the incident and the importance of protecting consumer data. The settlement also includes measures to prevent future breaches, including a requirement for Uber to implement a new corporate governance program to address security risks and report on data breaches to the Federal Trade Commission.
Uber’s handling of the breach has been widely criticized, with many accusing the company of prioritizing its own interests over those of its users. The settlement shows that companies can no longer sweep data breaches under the rug and must face the consequences of their actions.
In a statement, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi acknowledged the company’s failings and pledged to take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. “We know that earning the trust of our customers and the public is more important now than ever before,” Khosrowshahi said. “We are committed to implementing the necessary changes to ensure that our users’ data is protected and secure.”
The settlement sends a clear message to companies that the protection of consumer data is of utmost importance, and that failure to do so will result in severe consequences. It also serves as a wake-up call to consumers to be vigilant about the security of their personal information and to hold companies accountable for safeguarding their data.
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