Ride-hailing app inDrive is under risk of being scrapped in Laos after recent reports of sexual assaults by drivers that raised concerns over a lack of safety provisions for users, state media say.
A 15-year-old girl reported to police that she was sexually assaulted by an inDrive operator after she booked a journey on Saturday in the capital, Vientiane, from the bus terminal to her workplace.
Police in Vientiane told RFA that they are aware of the complaint. It was unclear if the driver has been contacted or brought in for questioning.
In March, another InDrive driver was accused of sexually assaulting a female passenger and forcing her to watch a sexually explicit video on his phone.
InDrive does not have a physical presence in Laos although it has become popular with both drivers and passengers in the Southeast Asian nation. The company was founded in Russia and is now incorporated in California.
Last month, the Lao Department of Public Works and Transport requested that the government take action to close the ride-share app, alleging it lacks certification in Laos, making its operations illegal.
A report in the state-run Vientiane Times says the department has also criticized the app for being “unsafe” and untrustworthy as passengers have no means to contact the company in case of accidents or crimes.
RFA spoke to registered taxi drivers in Laos who raised concerns that inDrive drivers have not undergone criminal background checks, despite claims by the company that all drivers are vetted.
RFA contacted inDrive through its website to ask whether the company was assisting police regarding the latest complaint, but the company has not replied.
The CEO of the company, Arsen Tomsky, relocated to Ukraine after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The company currently operates in nearly 900 cities across more than 48 countries, its website says.
InDrive is a private company valued at more than $1.2 billion. Its key point of difference from other ride-hailing apps is that it allows passengers to barter with drivers on a set price for a journey.
Edited by Mat Pennington.