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The results of startups flouting laws though have been such that even when faced with determined opposition, in the end they are defeated. Airbnb and Uber ran r
by MattGaiser 1mo ago
The results of startups flouting laws though have been such that even when faced with determined opposition, in the end they are defeated. Airbnb and Uber ran roughshod over the law and faced determined taxi commissions and groups that usually beat real estate developers.
- DrScientist 1mo agoThe latest and largest Uber fine - 825 million. https://www.reuters.com/world/dutch-regulator-fines-uber-966-million-automating-driver-suspensions-document-2026-08-21/ https://www.reuters.com/world/dutch-regulator-fines-uber-966... Also, in the UK, lost their 5 year battle about whether drivers are self-employed or workers for Uber. https://www.taxiplus.co.uk/news/new-rules-for-uber-drivers-what-you-need-to-know https://www.taxiplus.co.uk/news/new-rules-for-uber-drivers-w... Or AirBnB versus Barcelona - https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/06/10/barcelona-is-shutting-down-every-airbnb-by-2028/ https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/06/10/barcelona-is-shutti... The US is not the only jurisdiction - and that complexity creates an opportunity to leverage fines.
- DrScientist 1mo agoAnd of course the 18 billion recent Meta settlement - agreed to potentially stop a law suit that could have unravelled the whole company.