New York’s top financial watchdog is demanding answers from Uber as the rideshare giant faces mounting allegations of sexual assault and misconduct involving riders.
State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced he has filed a shareholder proposal urging Uber to publicly explain how it is working to prevent sexual harassment and assault on its platform. The proposal was submitted on behalf of the New York State Common Retirement Fund, which holds roughly $240 million in Uber stock.
DiNapoli said rider safety is essential to Uber’s long-term success and to protecting shareholder value.
“For Uber to succeed, its users need to feel safe and not have a shred of doubt about using the service,” DiNapoli said. “The company should increase transparency about what it’s doing to protect riders from these horrifying incidents.”
Wave of allegations against Uber
The shareholder proposal points to published reports showing the scale of the problem. Court documents cited in media coverage indicate Uber received a report of sexual assault or sexual misconduct in the United States nearly every eight minutes between 2017 and 2022.
That amounts to more than 400,000 reported incidents during that period. The disclosures have fueled thousands of lawsuits filed in state and federal courts, with plaintiffs alleging Uber failed to put adequate safety measures in place to protect riders.
The issue has also drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators. A U.S. House subcommittee opened an investigation in 2025 into how Uber handles sexual assault reports, and the New Jersey Attorney General has launched a separate investigation into the company’s safety representations.
What the proposal asks for
DiNapoli’s proposal calls on Uber’s board to publish a transparency report detailing how it oversees sexual assault prevention and rider safety. The report would summarize the board’s role in enforcing Uber’s Community Guidelines and could include information on how often the board receives safety reports, driver screening practices, the number of assault reports, and related lawsuits.
The proposal does not seek proprietary or confidential information and asks that the report be prepared at a reasonable cost.
According to the filing, Uber itself has acknowledged the risk in its regulatory disclosures, noting numerous global allegations involving drivers or people impersonating drivers who sexually assaulted or seriously harmed passengers.
Investor pressure grows
DiNapoli said transparency is critical not only for riders, but also for investors trying to assess the company’s long-term risks.
With New York’s pension fund holding a significant stake in Uber, the comptroller said the company must show it can responsibly manage safety issues while protecting its reputation and financial stability.
The proposal will be considered by Uber shareholders at a future meeting.
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