Top EU court approves stricter Uber regulations

The European Union’s top court on Wednesday ruled that ride-hailing service Uber should be regulated like a taxi company, not a technology service. The decision is a blow for San Francisco–based Uber as it will limit its activities across Europe. Taxi drivers honked in celebration of the decision by the European Court of Justice. The case in question involved a Barcelona taxi drivers association, which argued Uber drivers engage in unfair competition because they don’t have authorizations and licenses required for taxi drivers. Uber said it should be regulated as an information service provider, not a taxi service. But the court said Uber is “inherently linked to a transport service.” Despite the ruling, Uber says it will adapt and continue to expand service in Europe. The company already has had to abandon its peer-to-peer model in some countries and operates under transportation law. The decision comes at the end of a hard year for Uber that included legal challenges in other countries, the resignation of its CEO, sexual harassment allegations, and revelations about a cover-up of a massive data breach.