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If you're having an affair or doing pretty much anything that you might not want people to know you're doing, there are a hundred and one ways for people to find you. Users aren't dumb. They know by the email receipt coming into their inbox complete with map that their movements are tracked. And they make a choice either way that suits their requirements or convenience. Having an affair? Get a cab and pay cash. Or take the risk. Personal choice, after all. Uber might be a questionable company with questionable people in charge (referring to 'boob-er' by Travis Kalanick for one), but they're just flawed people, as apparently is the author with his quite childish style and apparent lack of reality or commercials. Near me, Uber has made the previously shitty private hire cab industry up it's game, with more drivers and an app experience a bit like Uber. But, let's be clear. Uber probably weren't the first in this space, they're the ones that went out there, got funding, hired some smart people and delivered a good product and platform. And they existed because the industry, globally was pretty shitty, and bits of it still are. The good thing is that the consumer has choice. And the calls in the comments that the platform should be free and open is lovely and idealistic. But do the talented engineers, designers and whoever else that works to make a well put together and scalable platform not deserve good pay for a job well done? As a fair disclosure, I write, admire, build on-top-of free software and platforms when it meets my needs. I write this on a Mac, which also meets my needs. Choice exists and we're all leveraging it. |