Full Breakdown
Uber Tightens U.S. Driver Background Checks Amid Safety Scrutiny
6/27/2026, 9:03:41 PM
Uber Overhauls U.S. Driver Background Checks
On June 26, 2026 Uber announced a driver and courier background-check overhaul. It will permanently bar anyone with a violent felony, sexual crime, stalking or strangulation, regardless of timing. Checks will cover every address a driver has ever lived, replacing the prior seven-year SSN trace with a lifetime, 99-year trace. All participants will be rescreened annually.
Background & Context
A New York Times investigation found Uber allowed drivers with violent felony convictions older than seven years to operate in 22 states, while still barring murder, sexual assault, kidnapping and terrorism. The report linked the policies to passenger sexual-assault claims. Shareholders sued Uber over alleged chronic under-investment in rider safety, and the firm faces thousands of assault lawsuits.
Data & Statistics
The new policy adds violent felonies, sexual crimes, stalking and strangulation to the disqualification list. Uber will use a lifetime, 99-year SSN trace for every address, replacing the seven-year trace used in 35 states. About 2,000 drivers qualify for an exception if a non-sexual felony is over 15 years old. Bloomberg estimates the changes will cut tens of thousands of drivers, about 0.5 % of Uber’s U.S. workforce.
Official Statements & Responses
Uber said the revisions stem from consultations with civil-rights and women’s-safety groups to “better align with today’s expectations.” The company called the checks “the strongest in the industry” and reiterated that murder, sexual assault, kidnapping and terrorism remain disqualifying. Uber noted a “narrow exception” for drivers with clean safety records who meet the 15-year rule.
Criticism & Opposition
Plaintiffs argue Uber’s lax standards enabled repeat assaults. The shareholder lawsuit claims “Uber’s leadership has a long history of devoting insufficient resources to customer safety and protection, and setting a tone of non-compliance.” Advocacy groups warn that cutting drivers’ income may raise recidivism among formerly incarcerated workers.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The Times cites 22 states where older convictions were allowed; Uber’s materials reference 35 states using a seven-year SSN trace. Neither source gives a definitive driver-removal count, leaving the workforce impact uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our approach to safety has never been static.” — Uber, Safety Blog
- “We believe this is the right thing to do for drivers who have rebuilt their lives and demonstrated good behavior on and off the Uber platform.” — Uber spokesperson
- “*** Throughout this process, we worked with various organizations.” — John Pistole, Former Deputy Director of the FBI and Uber Safety Advisory Board member
- “Uber's leadership has a long history of devoting insufficient resources to customer safety and protection, and setting a tone of non-compliance for the organization,” — Shareholder lawsuit filing
What’s Next
The updated checks start Monday, with annual rescreenings later in 2026. Uber will post state-specific guidance online, and regulators will monitor compliance as the firm seeks to curb rider-safety incidents while preserving driver livelihoods.
