The Chinese driver Wang Yase, who drives for Uber in the Long Island and Queens areas of New York, had his app deactivated by Uber last fall for “dangerous driving” reasons, according to a report from November 29, 2025.
Wang Yase stated in an interview with Dajiyuan that he was puzzled by the vague explanation given by Uber for his deactivation. He expressed frustration at not knowing the specific details of the complaints against him, whether it was related to speeding, abrupt braking, passenger discomfort, or dissatisfaction with his service.
Wang Yase’s experience is not isolated, as many drivers among the nearly 90,000 ride-hailing drivers in New York City have complained about the lack of effective recourse after being suspended from platforms like Uber and Lyft.
Another Chinese driver, Zhaobil, received a text message from Uber in September accusing him of “sexual assault” by a customer on July 5, 2024, resulting in his app being disabled. Despite having the option to drive for Lyft, Zhaobil found himself blacklisted from both platforms due to the unsubstantiated complaint, leading to his unemployment.
Many drivers, predominantly people of color, faced abrupt deactivations without prior notice, as highlighted in a recent report which revealed that over 70% of Uber drivers and 76% of Lyft drivers were deactivated without warning.
According to a recent report by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, 90% of drivers had no channel for complaints or appeals after deactivation. The survey included responses from 350 Uber and Lyft drivers, with 95% of them being people of color, among which 69% were Asian drivers.
Uber and Lyft’s deactivation policies are based on various reasons such as vehicle issues, failed background checks, fraudulent activities, discrimination, harassment, or poor customer ratings.
A Chinese driver in Flushing, Lao Zhang, shared his experience of being deactivated by Uber within three days for alleged “poor service,” which he attributed to communication issues due to his limited English proficiency.
Regarding these deactivations, Uber spokesperson Freddi Goldstein emphasized that restricting driver access is a last resort to ensure the safety and reliability of the service for all users. Goldstein highlighted that less than 2% of Uber accounts in New York City were permanently disabled, primarily due to fraudulent activities and safety incidents.
Uber and Lyft stressed the importance of customer complaints in assessing driver behavior and stated that repeated complaints involving dangerous driving, discrimination, or harassment could lead to deactivation. Both companies mentioned their commitment to addressing frivolous deactivations and maintaining community safety.
In response to the challenges faced by drivers like Zhaobil, Uber established a Driver Account Deactivation Review Team in collaboration with the Independent Drivers Guild (IDG) to handle appeals from drivers not involved in criminal activities.
However, Zhaobil felt that his appeals, supported by the IDG, were disregarded by Uber, leaving him without any recourse or opportunity to defend himself against baseless accusations.
The lack of responses to driver appeals was a common issue highlighted in the report, with the majority of drivers experiencing unjust deactivations since 2019, especially those with high ratings above 4.8.
In 2024, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance organized protests against these unjust deactivations. City Council member Shekar Krishnan introduced Resolution No. 276 to address the unfair deactivations and safeguard the rights of ride-hailing drivers.
Resolution No. 276 proposed several measures to combat unfair deactivations, including shifting the burden of proof to companies like Uber and Lyft in deactivation cases, ensuring valid reasons for account suspensions, providing advance notices to drivers, and allowing drivers to appeal through impartial procedures, such as arbitration or governmental complaint processes.
Bhairavi Desai, the president of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, highlighted the essential role of the Resolution No. 276 in addressing the crisis faced by ride-hailing drivers, stressing that these issues intersect with workers’ rights, civil rights, and immigration rights.
Desai emphasized that for many immigrant drivers in New York, driving for Uber or Lyft is not just a part-time job but a vital source of income to support their families. She expressed concerns about the severe economic and emotional impact on drivers from unjust deactivations.
City Council member Krishnan criticized the one-sided and unfair nature of the deactivation process conducted by Uber and Lyft, expressing the need for Resolution No. 276 to create a fairer procedure for drivers to contest deactivations.
In a city where thousands of Chinese drivers work for Uber and Lyft, Resolution No. 276 holds significant importance for these drivers who rely on the ride-hailing industry for their livelihoods. It offers hope for justice to drivers who feel unfairly targeted and powerless against the monopolistic companies.
While some drivers like Wang Yase expressed gratitude for the support from driver unions and justice-seeking legislators, others like Zhaobil remained skeptical about the prospects of Resolution No. 276 offering a remedy to their plight. The challenges faced by these drivers underscore the urgent need for systemic reforms to protect the rights and livelihoods of ride-hailing workers.