Uber Bans Woman Named Swastika Chandra
Uber recently made headlines for banning a woman named Swastika Chandra from its services due to her first name, which was deemed “potentially offensive” by the company.
Incident Details
Chandra, whose name means ‘good luck’ in Sanskrit, shared her experience with a media outlet, A Current Affair. She encountered a pop-up message while placing a food order, instructing her to change her name on the app.
Symbolism of Swastika
While Chandra was aware of the association of the swastika with the Nazi Party, she emphasized its significance in Hindu culture. The swastika has a long history as an ancient symbol representing good fortune and well-being in various cultures.
Resolution and Apology
After a five-month ordeal, Uber granted Chandra an exemption to rejoin the platform following intervention from The Hindu Council, the NSW Attorney-General, and the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. Uber apologized to Chandra for the inconvenience caused and acknowledged the delay in resolving the matter.
Uber reiterated its commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all users, stating that the company has a global policy of restricting access to users with names containing potentially offensive words.
Following a review of Chandra’s request, Uber made the application accessible to her and expressed appreciation for her patience during the process.