Lawsuits accusing Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. of discriminating against male drivers through app features aimed at keeping women safe present a unique gig economy test for California’s broad public accommodations law.
Two proposed class actions under California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act are challenging the companies’ matching programs allowing women passengers to request women drivers.
They claim these programs limit the male drivers’ income and job opportunities, as well as reinforce gender stereotypes that men are dangerous. The lawsuits seek $4,000 for each male driver, whose numbers could reach into the hundreds of thousands.
