Emilie Boman, Director of Safety-Public Policy at Uber, said that the company is committed to rider safety but opposes the current version of Colorado bill HB25-1291 due to concerns about its impact. The statement was made at a Senate hearing.
"Sexual assault is sadly a pervasive issue in our society," said Boman. "We absolutely share your goal to prevent it on our platform and in our communities. Reports of sexual assault have decreased on our platform by 44% over the last six years. I respectfully urge the committee to vote no on this bill in its current form."
Colorado House Bill 25-1291, known as the Transportation Network Company Consumer Protection Act, aims to bolster safety regulations for rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. The bill proposes measures such as mandatory audio and video recording of rides. According to Axios, Uber has expressed strong opposition, arguing that the legislation infringes on user privacy and could compel the company to cease operations in Colorado due to increased legal risks. Uber has communicated its concerns to users and drivers, urging them to contact lawmakers to express opposition to the bill.
"We've taken an industry-leading approach, guided by safety experts, to prevent safety incidents and support survivors," said Irving. "Uber has invested in numerous safety features that allow users to share their trip with trusted contacts, connect seamlessly in-app with 911, and give users 24/7 support." Irving also noted that Uber requires drivers to complete mandatory sexual misconduct education and has developed a partnership with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). According to Irving, "serious safety incidents" are rare—a recent report found that 99.9998% of U.S. trips ended without a serious incident, and the company has seen a 44% decrease in its sexual assault rate since it began publishing data on the matter.
Uber warned Colorado lawmakers that House Bill 25-1291 could force the company to shut down operations statewide, citing privacy concerns, legal overreach, and technical infeasibility. In a letter to legislative leaders, Uber criticized the bill’s mandates for mandatory audio and video recording, broad private rights of action for minor infractions, and a ban on arbitration agreements—arguing these provisions would drive up costs, violate federal law, and threaten rider and driver safety while unfairly targeting rideshare platforms.
Emilie Boman serves as Uber's Director of Global Public Policy for Safety, Privacy & Consumer Protection. With over 15 years of experience at the intersection of technology and public policy, she has held various roles at Uber including leading public policy efforts for Uber Eats globally and overseeing UK & Ireland public affairs. Prior to joining Uber, Boman worked at Virgin Media focusing on children's online safety and at the International Chamber of Commerce in the UK. She holds a Master of Science in Public Policy from the London School of Economics and currently resides in San Francisco.