Discrimination in the urban sharing economy

At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, reports of anti-Asian discrimination were prevalent, including in sharing economy platforms. One such case involved a Malaysian who ordered an Uber in Melbourne. As he waited on the side of the road, he saw the Uber pass by him. He messaged the driver, stating where he was standing. The driver responded with ‘I don’t want to catch coronavirus’. Uber’s response included a reference to their Community Guidelines, which lay out anti-discrimination policy and practice. They also stated that as of 2019, all Uber drivers in Australia undertook mandatory education, using materials which reference anti-discrimination laws. While these policies are welcome, they are recent developments crafted after immense public pressure to better regulate widespread discriminatory practices on the platform. They also highlight ongoing weaknesses in the regulatory framework. The onus for reporting discrimination lies with the complainant, and for a range of reasons these types of complaints are grossly under-reported. Despite the development of policy and education materials, without external oversight, enforcement outcomes, and entrenchment in the platform’s leadership and practices, there is an ongoing risk of discrimination in the platforms.