Inline Insights

As the leading political consultancy dedicated to advancing the policy priorities of the tech community, Inline works with some of the world’s most innovative and disruptive companies.

In recent weeks companies operating in the gig economy have been signing agreements with regulators and unions regarding the status of their workers. The highest profile of these has been food delivery company JustEat, which has announced that it will move away from the gig economy model in several of its markets and will offer its drivers benefits including hourly wages, sick pay, and pension contributions.

Amid the fallout from the U.S. election, you might be forgiven for failing to notice that something very significant happened for the gig economy on polling day. Voters in California approved Proposition 22, a ballot measure sponsored by Uber, Lyft, and Postmates, to classify ride hailing and delivery drivers as independent contractors, rather than employees, unless certain criteria are met. This means that, barring a legal challenge or repeal in the California state legislature, the gig economy companies will not have to adhere to Assembly Bill 5. This is a major victory for the sector.

COVID-19 has shown us both how reliant we are on gig workers, and how vulnerable such workers are in major crises. After the crisis is over, policymakers will have to decide whether the gig economy and its ecosystem is something to be championed, or something to be managed via further regulations.

The tech sector, as all other sectors of the economy, has been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, but not necessarily in a negative way. The pandemic could in fact represent an opportunity for five key tech sub-sectors to innovate their business models and show policy makers the potential of new technologies for good during (and beyond) global crises.

California’s recent regulation to address perceived imbalances in the gig economy (known as AB5) has set tongues wagging about the future of companies like Uber and Lyft. Given Europe’s reputation for being tough on tech giants, is a similar intervention on this side of the Atlantic now inevitable?

Over the last two years ride hailing policy in Spain has been mired in conflict between the industry, taxi drivers, national government, local governments and competition authorities. Rules have been changed, challenged, revised and devolved, leaving a fragmented system that does not work well for any of the stakeholders.

Data portability rules in GDPR do very little to alter the balance of power in the digital economy. Could a shift to an economy based on data mobility give individuals true control over their personal data, tackle antitrust concerns around big tech, and strengthen workers in the gig economy?

This week's Top 3: German Government u-turns on e-scooter rules, new French rules for micro-mobility finalised, and Uber faces strikes shortly before IPO.

This week's Top 3: Uber makes a MaaS in London, Lime calls for respect in Brussels, and the debate continues over e-scooters in Germany. 

This week's Top 3: police cracking down on scooters in London and Dublin, a new global player for car sharing, Seville launches scooter consultation

This week's Top 3: Regulations on electric scooters on the way in Ireland, EU introduces new rights for ride hailing drivers, Poland's government meets with taxi drivers over new ride hailing rules.

This week's top 3 stories: Competition regulator examines Enterprise/SHB deal, Austria adopts scooter rules and German taxi drivers protest.

This week's top 3 stories: Fines for scooter riders and companies in Paris, new law on ride hailing and intermediaries in Poland, emergency transport laws introduced in Romania.

At a summit in Barcelona, cities from all across the world made it clear that they expect collaborative economy companies to play by their rules, and contribute to their goals.