Amy Love

B/S Editor

aml7458@psu.edu

Lyft and Uber have both stated that they are offering to cover 100% of the legal fees that can occur with the new law that has recently passed in Texas. The new law in Texas is a restrictive abortion ban, making abortions after six weeks illegal, as well as allowing citizens to sue those that are believe to aid someone who is having an abortion. Those who are sued could be fined up to $10,000. Individuals who could possibly be sued are doctors, nurses, practical support organizations and abortions funds, even going as far as including drivers. 

Lyft has stated on their website: “Drivers are never responsible for monitoring where their riders are going or why. Imagine being a driver and not knowing if you are breaking the law by giving someone a ride.” The company also goes on to say that the law is “incompatible with people’s basic rights to privacy, our community guidelines, the spirit of rideshare and our values of a company.” Lyft CEO Logan Green also tweeted out that he was donating one million dollars to Planned Parenthood in order to “ensure that transportation is never a barrier to healthcare access”. In an interview on NPR, John Zimmer, who is president of Lyft, said “We can solve the pieces that we can control. We can take a stand and encourage others to do the same, and my hope is that leads to further action and potentially further legal challenges against this law, which we believe does not fit the rights to privacy, and frankly, the Constitution.” 

Soon after Lyft took a stance, other companies followed suit. On Twitter, CEO of Uber, Dara Khorsrowshari, tweeted the following: “Drivers shouldn’t be at risk for getting people where they need to go.” 

It was not just rideshare companies who were trying to provide aid to those affected by this new law, several dating apps were doing the same. Bumble and Match, who are both Texas-based companies, each created relief funds. Bumble’s fund is being dedicated to organizations that support women’s reproductive rights. Match’s fund is devoted to its employees to cover the cost of seeking care out of state. 

The corporation GoDaddy is also playing a role by shutting down a website that was designed to report others who were getting a abortion post six-weeks. GoDaddy stated this website violated their terms and agreement and promptly shut it down.

Numerous CEOS are taking a political stance against this new legislation for various reasons. Essentially, this new law violates their principles and what they stand for.