After expose, Uber says it has ended ‘Greyball’ use

Uber Technologies has prohibited the use of its so-called 'Greyball' technology to target regulators, ending a programme that had been critical in helping Uber evade authorities in cities where the service has been banned.

Uber is reviewing the different ways the technology has been used and is "expressly prohibiting its use to target action by local regulators going forward," Uber Chief Security Officer Joe Sullivan said in a blog post on Wednesday.

The ride-hailing company last week confirmed the existence of the "Greyball" programme, which uses data from the Uber app and other methods to identify and circumvent officials who aimed to ticket or apprehend drivers in cities that opposed Uber's operations.

In a blog post, the San Francisco headquartered company said the practice is now under review.

Chief security officer Joe Sullivan says Greyballing was used to test new features, marketing promotions, fraud prevention, driver safety, and to ''deter riders using the app in violation of our terms of service''.

 ''We have started a review of the different ways this technology has been used to date. In addition, we are expressly prohibiting its use to target action by local regulators going forward,'' the post states.

A New York Times story last week revealed Greyball was allegedly used in Portland Oregon, Boston Massachusetts, Las Vegas, Paris, Australia, Italy, China, South Korea and more.