Cyber security is on a lot of people’s minds these days. We want to keep our identity and personal information private. Uber on the other hand has shown that they do not care about their customer’s privacy. The only thing that matters is winning.
An in-depth probe of Uber CEO Travis Kalanick by The New York Times revealed some interesting insights. Two years ago Kalanick was called into the office of Apple CEO Tim Cook and rebuked for purposefully breaking Apple rules with their app. Uber built into the app the ability to track you and your iPhone even if you deleted the app.
But it gets worse. Uber then devised a system so that anyone who was physically located at Apple headquarters couldn’t deep dive into the app code because of geotagging built into the app. In other words, they worked real hard to use technology to cover their tracks. They were okay with violating the Apple policies and agreements that companies who have apps sign as well as their clients personal privacy until they were caught
This premeditated attempt to lie, cheat and steal appears to be at the core of who Uber is. They run with a “win at any cost mentality.”
Do you want to do business with organizations who do not have values, ethics or care about the people they do business with? Do we value a service so much that we will look the other way when people and organizations break rules, or even worse, laws?
I see far too many organizations who are incredibly successful and are able to build that success on a set of values that they adhere to. They build that success with strong, positive, relationships they have with their employees and clients. The lack of accountability that Uber shows and the win at all cost attitude isn’t necessary to win.
I’m traveling tomorrow and when I need a taxi at about 4:45 in the afternoon you can rest assured it won’t be Uber that I will be calling.
If there is one thing we demand from companies we do business with shouldn’t it be accountability?
