"Uber sues Los Angeles over data collection", 25 March 2020

Uber filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Department of Transportation Tuesday, intensifying its disagreement with the local agency over the city’s requirement for the company to share live location data for its dockless scooters.

The ride share company argues in the complaint that providing real-time location data could allow government agencies or hackers to obtain information about the daily lives of residents and violate their privacy.

The lawsuit was officially filed by Social Bicycles LLC, which runs the dockless scooter company Jump. Uber acquired Social Bicycles in April 2018...

...Uber began collecting the real-time data earlier this month to prevent the city from removing its scooters. Previously, data came in with a 24-hour lag. But names and other identifiable information are removed from the data before collection, the Journal noted...

...Los Angeles officials claim they need the data to monitor traffic on public streets, as ditched dockless bikes and scooters can present a traffic hazard. City representatives argue that Uber is using the invasion of privacy argument to stop regulation and limit the amount of information shared about its company...

...The lawsuit comes as cities are figuring out how to regulate dockless bikes and scooters from different companies that are left on public streets without overstepping and invading privacy. Other cities are looking to Los Angeles to see how this lawsuit proceeds, the Journal noted.