Consumer Reports’ latest investigation found that ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft use artificial intelligence to routinely charge customers wildly different prices for the same ride – with some being charged as much as 50 percent more. The differences in prices are partially driven by fake discounts – a practice that is considered illegal in several states – where the price of a ride is inflated and then ‘discounted’ back to the original price, making it near impossible to truly compare prices.
Uber and Lyft should not take consumers for a ride when it comes to the prices we pay! Join us in calling on the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to investigate Uber and Lyft’s pricing algorithms, and hold them accountable if they find any unfair or deceptive practices.
PETITION TO THE FTC AND STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL
At a time when companies are using algorithms and AI to set prices, we urge you to immediately investigate the use of artificial intelligence by Uber and Lyft that results in different customers paying more for the same route. A new investigation by Consumer Reports found that volunteer riders who looked up the same routes at the exact same time online saw prices for some routes differ by as much as 50 percent. The investigation also found the companies gave fake discounts to some consumers, so they ended up paying the same amount as someone else’s full price fare.
As more people rely on Uber and Lyft to get to work or for urgent medical situations, we should not have to worry whether the price or discount we’re seeing is genuine or inflated. Please use your authority to investigate the use of artificial intelligence in setting fares, and hold Uber and Lyft accountable if you find any unfair or deceptive pricing.