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Original article: No más limbo para usuarios de apps de transporte: ODECU exige reglas claras y sin rebajas

The Chilean Consumers and Users Organization (ODECU) has raised its voice to demand clear regulations without lowered standards for protecting users of ride-hailing applications, highlighting the uncertainty regarding the implementation of Law N° 21.553, which oversees companies in this sector. This issue is compounded by the «contradictory signals» coming from various government bodies concerning the regulation.

ODECU insists that this situation cannot continue and that the focus of the debate must shift from industry interests to a more fundamental question: What regulatory framework better protects consumers in their daily lives? This should ensure safety, transparency, coverage, effective competition, and the safeguarding of personal data.

Amid this lack of clarity, the organization acknowledges that Law N° 21.553, often referred to as the Uber Law, includes several advancements, such as recognizing platforms as transportation companies, assigning liability for service failures, mandating minimum information and safety standards, and applying the Consumer Rights Protection Law.

However, ODECU argues that the delay in the issuance of regulations has prolonged a state of uncertainty which directly impacts users by undermining their confidence in the conditions under which transport services are provided.

“Consumers cannot remain trapped between the pressures of platforms and political disputes. Chile needs regulation that emerges from the limbo, but without sacrificing safety, transparency, privacy, or equitable access to services,” stated the organization’s president, Stefan Larenas Riobó.

ODECU asserts that any adjustments to the regulations enacted by Congress in April 2023 must be based solely on technical criteria and verifiable evidence, to avoid potential alterations that could undermine rights under pressure from companies.

Among the essential guarantees they consider untouchable are minimum requirements for clear prior information on fares without unexpected charges, verifiable identification of the driver and vehicle, trip monitoring with effective emergency channels, and the ability to cancel without cost when inconsistencies arise between what the app offers and the actual service provided.

Larenas Riobó emphasized that “a modern regulation cannot be built at the expense of weakening basic standards.”

“Clear information, travel safety, and the ability to file complaints for noncompliance are minimum conditions that must be safeguarded at all times,” he stressed, as cited in a press release.

Through this warning, ODECU aims to protect fundamental rights against any attempts at flexibility that might favor companies at the expense of passengers.

Beyond transportation conditions, the organization also brought to light an often-overlooked issue: the protection of personal data.

Since ride-hailing applications handle sensitive information about routes, timings, and mobility patterns of Chilean citizens, ODECU emphasized the need to “establish robust requirements for information security, access traceability, and usage limits.”

The organization’s call to the government is clear and direct: define a clear timeline for implementing the regime, ensure that standards of protection are not lowered, properly justify any proposed modifications, and crucially, “guarantee the effective participation of consumer organizations throughout the process.”

La entrada No More Uncertainty for Ride-Hailing App Users: ODECU Calls for Clear Regulations and No Compromise on Standards se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.