from Hacker News

I learned just how far Uber will go to silence journalists and attack women

by julespitt on 11/18/14, 3:12 AM with 10 comments

  • by PhantomGremlin on 11/18/14, 4:33 AM

    I don't know the background of this fight. But I did read the linked buzzfeed article.

    The article discusses remarks Uber executive Emil Michael made. He said that Uber should consider hiring a team of opposition researchers to dig up dirt on its critics in the media — and specifically to spread details of the personal life of a female journalist who has criticized the company.

    The executive later attempted to repudiate his remarks by saying

       “The remarks attributed to me at a private
   dinner — borne out of frustration during an
   informal debate over what I feel is
   sensationalistic media coverage of the
   company I am proud to work for — do not
   reflect my actual views and have no relation
   to the company’s views or approach. They were
   wrong no matter the circumstance and
   I regret them.”
    So apparently the words coming out of his mouth did not reflect his "actual views". Good to know.

    Kinda reminds me of an earlier period of US history, when a US President nicknamed Tricky Dick famously said: "We can do that, but it would be wrong." History does not record whether Dick was winking when he said that.

  • by retroafroman on 11/18/14, 5:11 AM

    Disappointing he wouldn't even offer a simple apology when talking on the phone. Perhaps afraid of getting sued, but really?

  • by merrua on 11/18/14, 10:06 AM

    How is Uber's brand not poison by this point? Obvious problem of not taking care of ones customers keeps turning up.

  • by leeview on 11/18/14, 11:26 AM

    What a profitable and rather easy job: blogging about how sexist, women objectifying misogynist a CEO is. If it's not the CEO then it's a manager. Or an employee. Or a contractor. Or a subcontractor. From US. Or from Europe. Or maybe there is not enough diversity. "Somewhere sometime a woman is a victim and if you are a man you should feel guilty because someone else did something wrong !" How many years will continue this immorally idiotic campaign ?