Uber admits using ‘secret tool’

Company confirms reports of the presence of software intended to circumvent the efforts of enforcement officials.

Ride services company Uber for years has used a secret tool to avoid authorities in markets where its service faced resistance by law enforcement or was banned, the company has confirmed.

The New York Times first reported the existence of the program, called Greyball, which uses data from the Uber app and other methods to identify and circumvent officials who aimed to ticket or apprehend drivers in cities that opposed its operations.