ECJ’s Uber ruling has widespread implications for gig economy

Europe’s top court rules Uber is a taxi service rather than an app

Uber, London
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Uber is a taxi service that must comply with national laws, the European Court of Justice decided today in a ruling that has major implications for the wider gig economy across the 28-member EU bloc.

The court challenge was brought by a Barcelona taxi drivers’ group, which argued that Uber was directly involved in carrying passengers. Uber’s lawyers insisted the company was a “computer services business” and should therefore be subject to an EU directive governing e-commerce.

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