New Delhi: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued a notice to cab aggregators Ola and Uber regarding alleged differential pricing for the same route depending on whether the user is on an iPhone or an Android device. The notice follows complaints that the two companies were charging different fares for identical trips based on the mobile operating system.
Union Minister Prahlad Joshi shared the development in a post on social media platform ‘X,’ confirming that the CCPA had taken action. “As a follow-up to the earlier observation of apparent #DifferentialPricing based on the different models of mobiles (#iPhones/ #Android) being used, Department of Consumer Affairs through the CCPA, has issued notices to major cab aggregators #Ola and #Uber, seeking their responses,” Joshi stated.
This is not the first instance of the department intervening on consumer-related concerns involving tech companies. Earlier, the CCPA had issued a notice to Apple after several complaints were received about performance issues in iPhones following updates to iOS 18 or later versions. Consumers reported significant slowdowns and issues, prompting the department to examine the complaints and seek a response from the company.
The latest notices to Ola, Uber, and Apple reflect the government’s ongoing efforts to hold companies accountable for their practices and ensure that consumer rights are protected. The move emphasizes the need for transparency and fairness in pricing, with a clear expectation that businesses adopt ethical practices to avoid exploiting consumers.
