Hannah Nilles, Head of Safety for the Americas at Uber, said that the company’s survivor-centric safety policies ensure reports are taken at face value and acted upon without proof requirements. This statement was made on Uber’s website.
“Our internal processes were developed with input from safety experts and are designed to be survivor-centric,” said Nilles. “We rely heavily on the survivor’s statement of experience, which we take at face value. Unlike the court system, we do not require proof of the incident in order to take action or provide support.”
Uber emphasizes that its survivor-centric safety process differs from legal proceedings by prioritizing survivor agency, privacy, and trust in their accounts without requiring proof. According to Uber’s newsroom, this approach, shaped with input from experts, allows the company to take action on support and account status while avoiding retraumatization often tied to evidence-heavy investigations. This model reflects a commitment to safety beyond legal standards.
In its 2019–2020 U.S. Safety Report, Uber documented 3,824 reports of the most severe sexual assaults, each reviewed through its survivor-centric process. This represented a decline compared with the 2017–2018 report and showed how Uber is tracking progress while providing survivor-focused support. According to USA Today, Uber publishes these reports to increase accountability and highlight trends in safety incidents.
Other companies have adopted similar survivor-focused approaches. Lyft, for example, does not automatically report incidents to law enforcement but instead gives survivors control over whether to pursue legal action. It also began publishing its own safety transparency reports after Uber set the precedent. According to Lyft’s 2020–2022 Safety Transparency Report, its practices were informed by a Safety Advisory Council.
Nilles serves as Uber’s Head of Safety for the Americas, leading the development of policies, product features, and transparency practices that prioritize survivor support. She has been a public voice on the company’s progress, outlining how Uber’s survivor-centric model has contributed to declines in serious sexual assault rates. According to Uber’s newsroom, Nilles authored its most recent safety statement.
Uber’s broader safety framework includes continuous driver background checks, RideCheck GPS alerts, in-app emergency features, and recurring U.S. Safety Reports. The company also collaborates with experts and advocacy groups such as RAINN (Rape Abuse & Incest National Network), RALIANCE (a national partnership dedicated to ending sexual violence), NSVRC (National Sexual Violence Resource Center), and NNEDV (National Network to End Domestic Violence). According to Uber’s industry-sharing announcement, these measures aim to embed survivor-centric values in its safety mission.
