Uber Icons
Request ID: FOI-3142-1819
Date published: 11 March 2019
You asked
I have reason to believe that between August 2013 & July 2014 TfL's Taxi & Private Hire department had e-mail exchanges with Uber regarding the displaying of vehicle icons on the Uber App.
In these e-mails I'm lead to believe they discuss vehicles that are licensed with authorities outside of London but which were showing as available on the Uber App in the geographical area of Greater London.
As such, I believe that TfL considered that the icon to be making the provision for the invitation of the private hire booking and this was contrary to section 2 of the 1998 private hire act.
Therefore, I believe that this could be the reason why we didn't see Uber vehicles licensed elsewhere operating in London.
Could I ask under the FOI act for all emails between TFLTPH and Uber between August 2013 & July 2014 that reference 'icons' or 'making the provision for the invitation of private hire booking in the context that I have mentioned'.
I guess key words would be:
Icons
Vehicles licensed elsewhere
1998 private hire act
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-3142-1819
Thank you for your request received on 18 February 2019 asking for correspondence regarding the display of vehicle icons on the Uber app.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and TfL’s information access policy.
We do not hold the information you have requested. I can confirm that we do not hold any emails between the Taxi Private Hire (TPH) team and Uber between August 2013 and July 2014 that reference 'icons' or 'making the provision for the invitation of private hire booking’ in the context that you have mentioned.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob
Senior FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
[email protected]
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