The battle between Uber and Paris officials escalated this week when local police raided the company’s French headquarters, seizing a cache of documents and smartphones, according to French media.
Le Monde reported that Paris prosecutors issued a warrant related to the UberPOP service, which has been banned in the city since the beginning of 2015. More than 20 police appeared at Uber’s Paris office on Monday to execute the warrant.
“We see in this raid a disproportionate action, carried out on shaky legal grounds,” said Thibaud Simphal, Uber France’s general manager, in the French newspaper Le Nouvel Observateur.
According to a new law that went into effect on January 1, all drivers carrying passengers must be licensed to do so and carry insurance. Uber has appealed the law to the European Commission.
AI Weekly
The must-read newsletter for AI and Big Data industry written by Khari Johnson, Kyle Wiggers, and Seth Colaner.
Included with VentureBeat Insider and VentureBeat VIP memberships.
Meanwhile, the UberPOP app still works in France, but officials have been levying fines against people who drive for Uber. According to FranceInfo, 250 drivers have received fines so far this year.
VentureBeat's mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Learn More