Mario Nawfal, Founder of IBC Group, said that Uber's threat to exit Colorado over proposed rideshare safety legislation highlights significant concerns about privacy and operational feasibility. Nawfal made this statement on X.
"Major technical and financial burden," said Nawfal. "Privacy nightmare with zero proven safety benefit. Fix it, or we're out."
According to Fox Business, on April 16, the Colorado House passed HB25-1291 in a 59-6 bipartisan vote. The bill aims to enhance safety for transportation network users by mandating biannual background checks and requiring audio and video recordings of rides. The legislation advanced to the Senate Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology, which approved it 4-3 to move to the Committee of the Whole. Uber opposes the measure, warning it may exit Colorado, stating the bill "threatens user privacy," poses "major technical and financial burdens," and "offers no clear safety benefit in return."
The Colorado Sun reported that Uber has warned that House Bill 1291 would expose it to excessive legal risk by allowing lawsuits over drivers offering passengers food or drinks and failing to record rides. It would also force companies to reimburse all approved drivers for audio-visual equipment, even those who never give rides. The company said it has never left a state before and called the bill "cynical and disheartening," despite having participated in a full rewrite and accepted multiple amendment requests.
Uber also noted that House Bill 1291 is unnecessary, citing its existing in-app safety features like audio and video recording, RideCheck, and the Emergency Button, which already provide real-time support and accountability. According to USA Today, Uber mentioned that its "Record My Ride" feature allows drivers to use their phone’s front-facing camera like a dashcam while both riders and drivers can also make audio recordings. When the Emergency Button is pressed, critical trip details are instantly shared with 911 dispatchers.
Nawfal is a prominent entrepreneur and investor in the crypto space, known for founding IBC Group and co-founding NFT Technologies. He previously built global wellness and kitchen appliance brands through companies like Froothie, HX, and Optimum Appliances.