FBI Probes Uber Software That Was Used to Track Competitors

The FBI’s office in New York City is investigating Uber Technologies Inc. to determine whether the ride-hailing service used software illegally to track drivers for competing providers, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Sources tell the newspaper the probe is focused on Uber’s now-discontinued “Hell” project. They say the program, which operated between 2014 and 2016, involved setting up bogus accounts with rival provider Lyft Inc. so Uber could track Lyft drivers and compare route pricing.

The operation also enabled Uber to find drivers working for both companies, enabling it to target special incentives to lure them away from Lyft. Uber has not publicly disclosed the existence of the Hell project, which was first disclosed in April by The Information website.

The Journal notes that Uber is under another investigation for using a software program called Greyball to help its drivers evade local regulations that banned Uber-style services. The newspaper also reported last month that the U.S. Dept. of Justice may be preparing to determine whether Uber illegally paid bribes overseas to secure and retain rights to provide its service.