Topic analysis

Uber driver Michael was assaulted by passengers. He says the platform’s response added insult to injury

In April 2026, Uber driver Michael Thorn was assaulted by intoxicated passengers in western Sydney, requiring hospital stitches, but had his account deactivated shortly after reporting the incident—though it was reactivated four days later with a warning. His case highlights broader grievances among Australian Uber drivers, who face unfair deactivation via automated systems with limited internal recourse; many turn to unions or the Fair Work Commission for help, as experts and tribunal rulings criticize the platform’s lack of procedural fairness and over-reliance on algorithms to manage its tens of thousands of non-employee drivers.