---
title: "Uber Just Got Kicked Out of London"
description: "Once again, London is trying to get rid of Uber over passenger safety concerns. And once again, Uber is confident that it's not going anywhere,"
date: "2019-11-25"
modified: "2019-11-25"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/london-kicked-uber-out-second-time"
categories:
  - "Future Society"
tags:
  - "london"
  - "the digest"
  - "transport"
  - "Uber"
---

# Uber Just Got Kicked Out of London

![Once again, London is trying to get rid of Uber over passenger safety concerns. And once again, Uber is confident that it's not going anywhere,](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/london-kicked-uber-out-second-time.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## Shame On Me

Uber has been stripped of its operating license in the city of London — for the second time.

London's transportation bureau, Transport for London, [told *Gizmodo*](<https://gizmodo.com/uber-loses-operating-license-in-london-again-over-saf-1840027267>) that it's observed a "pattern of failures" by Uber, and that it can't allow the company to continue operation until it puts better passenger safety protocols in place. It's the second time [London has booted Uber](<https://futurism.com/soon-uber-wont-be-allowed-to-operate-in-a-major-urban-metropolis>) over safety concerns, and the yet another stage in an exhausting legal battle between the two.

## Unauthorized Drivers

The main issue involves Uber's apparent inability to verify that drivers are who they claim to be. Transport for London told *Gizmodo* that [unauthorized drivers](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/driver-ubers-algorithm-assaulted-passenger>) had shuttled thousands of passengers around the city. Some of the drivers had already had their licenses revoked.

"A key issue identified was that a change to Uber's systems allowed unauthorized drivers to upload their photos to other Uber driver accounts," the transportation bureau told *Gizmodo*. "This allowed them to pick up passengers as though they were the booked driver, which occurred in at least 14,000 trips — putting passenger safety and security at risk."

## Forever War

Uber, however, doesn't plan on leaving. When London first tried to boot Uber from the city in 2017, the company [successfully appealed](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/ubers-london-license-renewed>) to extend its stay.

And the past is prelude. Uber told *Gizmodo* that it plans to do the same this time around and expects to continue with business as usual.

**READ MORE:** [Uber Loses Operating License in London (Again) Over Safety and Security Issues](<https://gizmodo.com/uber-loses-operating-license-in-london-again-over-saf-1840027267>) \[*Gizmodo*\]

**More on Uber:** *[Soon, Uber Won’t Be Allowed to Operate in a Major Urban Metropolis](<https://futurism.com/soon-uber-wont-be-allowed-to-operate-in-a-major-urban-metropolis>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)