The Power of Social Media: #DeleteUber

Uber failed to abide with a NYC taxi strike at JFK Airport this past weekend, which was called in response to the Trump Administration’s Executive Order on immigration targeting various Muslim countries. Social media activists staged an online strike of Uber, dubbed: #DeleteUber. The hashtag #UberRideswithHate was also used in conjunction with planned protests in Oakland, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Seattle, Hoboken, and other cities. This on-line protest resulted in Lyft, Uber’s rival, to gain customers despite Uber reducing its rates on basic service (uberX) in New York City by 15 %. In fact the price reduction lead to an Uber driver strike. Negative coverage of these events and public sentiment of Uber employees led to Uber CEO Travis Kalanick resigning from President Trump’s Business Advisory Council. 

Wapack Labs extensively reported on social media protests in the past. An archive of related reporting can be found in the Red Sky Alliance portal.

The following organizations were cited in this report: Uber, Lyft

TLP: AMBER
ACTOR TYPE: (II)
SERIAL: TR-025-2017
COUNTRIES: US
INDUSTRIES: Transportation, Financial
REPORT DATE: 20170203

Uber Driver Appreciation Day

Priority Intelligence Report (PIR)

Executive Summary: 

Wapack Labs observed the online marketing of a fake Uber Driver Appreciation Day that is growing on various social media platforms. Wapack Labs believes that the event is being organized by Ben Palmer (alleged comedian and prankster from Atlanta, GA), and may have a financial impact on Uber as a result of advertised claims that Uber drivers will receive 100 percent of all fares paid for their services on 15 August 2016. It is unclear whether this event will affect bank transactions or reversal fees with Uber, Uber drivers, Uber customers or financial institutions associated with Uber.

Publication date: 17 August 2016; information cutoff date: 16 August 2016
Handling requirements: Traffic light protocol (TLP) AMBER. 
Attribution/Threat Actors: Criminal
Companies Targeted: Uber
Previous Reporting: N/A

This report was published in its entirety to the Financial Services ISAC and Red Sky Alliance portal on August 18, 2016.  For more information, contact Wapack Labs at 844-4-WAPACK.