Gov’t allegedly asked Uber, Careem to divulge real time data

Ride-sharing apps Uber and Careem were allegedly asked by the Sisi administration to divulge real-time user and driver data, writes Declan Walsh in an epic piece for the New York Times. He alleges that the government offered both companies incentives and advantages in exchange for sharing the data. Uber, “already reeling from accusations of overly aggressive business practices in the United States,” reportedly refused the request right away, but Walsh cites sources saying Careem held a number of meetings to entertain the idea, something the company has since denied. In any case, company attempts to avoid providing data may be moot: A bill now before the House of Representatives to regulate the industry contains provisions that would require servers be stored in Egypt — and that access be granted to relevant government bodies, writes Walsh.