Tech Roundup: Lawmakers eye cap on Uber fees

Welcome to our Tech Roundup, where we bring you the biggest stories in technology and innovation in Brazil and Latin America. This week: Brazilian lawmakers punt on a bill capping how much Uber-like apps can charge from their drivers. The Brazilian Senate has once again delayed a vote on a bill that could reshape the ride-hailing industry.

The proposed legislation would cap service fees charged by apps like Uber at 10 percent of a rider’s fare, significantly reducing the commissions that drivers currently pay. Why it matters. The fees platforms charge drivers are anything but transparent.



While Uber claims its average commission is 25 percent, the actual rates can vary wildly. Opaqueness. One driver in Joinville, a city in southern Brazil, posted a now-private YouTube video showing Uber’s commissions on seven rides from the same day, with values ranging from 13.

8 percent to as high as 40 percent. Brazilian Foreigner.