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配車サービス「Uber」の運転手が12月17日（米国時間）、ボストン市内で乗客を誘拐し強姦した容疑で罪状認否を問われた。
ボストン地区のニュースを扱うサイト「WHDH」の記事によると、被害者の女性は12月6日午後7時30分頃、アレハンドロ・ダン容疑者（46歳）の運転する車に乗ったという。
マサチューセッツ州ミドルセックス郡地区検察局の説明によると、女性はダン容疑者に目的地を伝えたが、「容疑者は、女性の知らない場所まで車を走らせて人目の付かない所で停車し、女性の座る後部座席に乗り込んできた」という。
ダン容疑者は、「女性を殴り、首を絞め、女性が逃走できないように車の扉をロックした上で、女性の口を塞いで声を出せないようにした」。そして、「容疑者はその後、抵抗する女性を押さえつけ、性的暴行を加えた」とされている。
捜査にあたったケンブリッジ警察は、Uber社の記録からダン容疑者をつきとめ、被害女性も同容疑者をレイプ犯だと確認したという。ダン容疑者には、強姦罪や誘拐罪、強姦および暴行の罪など、複数の容疑がかけられており、12月24日に審問が行われる。CBS Bostonの報道によると、Uber社は、ダン容疑者はたしかに同社に登録した運転手ではあるが、女性被害者がUber社システムを通して予約した運転手ではない、と述べている。さらに、ボストンでは12月14日深夜に、タクシー運転手に性的ハラスメントを受けたケースが3件連続して起こっており、そのうち少なくとも2件の被害者がUber社を通して予約したと確認されている。
Uber社の広報担当者であるケイトリン・ダーコシ氏は、ハフポストUS版の取材に対し、メールで次のように回答した。「今回の事件は許す事のできない卑劣な犯行です。われわれは、被害に遭った女性が一日も早く回復することを、心からお祈りしております。Uber社は警察当局との連携を強化し、当局の捜査を支援するために最大限の協力を続けていきます」
Uber社では過去にも、運転手が問題を起こしたり、強姦容疑で告訴されるなどの問題が発生している。12月初めには、インドの首都デリーで、Uber社の運転手が乗客を強姦したとして逮捕され、同市を含むインド国内の複数の地域で、Uber社は営業停止になった。
また、ニュースサイト「The Daily Beast」の記事によると、ロサンゼルス市でも2014年6月、Uber社の運転手が乗客を誘拐し、性的暴行を加えたとして逮捕されている。
一連の事件を受け、Uber社が運転手を採用する時の身元調査の方法に不備があるのではないか、との疑問の声が生じている。実際に、今月初めのニューヨーク・タイムズ紙の記事によると、同社は、従来のタクシー会社と同様の水準の身元調査を要求されることがないよう、複数の州でロビー活動を行っていたという。
しかし、ハフポストUS版の取材に対してUber社の広報担当者は、現在のアメリカ国内における同社の身元調査は、大半のタクシー会社が実施している調査よりも「厳格かつ綿密」に行われていると回答した。
インターネットメディア「Buzz Feed News」の記事によると、Uber社は、少なくとも7年前にまで遡って身元調査を行うことを義務付ける連邦法を支持しており、実際に、同社の基準でも、7年前にまで遡って身元調査を行うよう定めている。
ただしUber社は、運転手採用時の指紋採取を法律で義務付けることには反対している。その理由として同社は、指紋は信頼性が低い上に、多くの刑事裁判では、起訴時に被疑者の指紋の提出を求めないため、効果が薄いと主張している。
この記事は最初にハフポストUS版に掲載されたものです。
[日本語版：丸山佳伸、合原弘子/ガリレオ]
インド・デリー レイプ事件
INDIA-CRIME-RAPE-TRANSPORT-UBER(01 of28)
Indian police escort Uber taxi driver and accused rapist Shiv Kumar Yadav (C) following his court appearance in New Delhi on December 8, 2014. Delhi\'s government on December 8 banned Uber from operating in the Indian capital after a passenger accused one of its drivers of rape, dealing a fresh blow to the reputation of online taxi service. The controversial US-based company has come in for heavy criticism in India since a young company executive said she had been raped by an Uber driver, who had previously been accused of assault. AFP PHOTO / CHANDAN KHANNA (Photo credit should read Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHANDAN KHANNA via Getty Images)
INDIA-CRIME-RAPE-TRANSPORT-UBER(02 of28)
Indian police escort Uber taxi driver and accused rapist Shiv Kumar Yadav (C) following his court appearance in New Delhi on December 8, 2014. Delhi\'s government on December 8 banned Uber from operating in the Indian capital after a passenger accused one of its drivers of rape, dealing a fresh blow to the reputation of online taxi service. The controversial US-based company has come in for heavy criticism in India since a young company executive said she had been raped by an Uber driver, who had previously been accused of assault. AFP PHOTO / CHANDAN KHANNA (Photo credit should read Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHANDAN KHANNA via Getty Images)
INDIA-CRIME-RAPE-TRANSPORT-UBER(03 of28)
Indian police escort Uber taxi driver and accused rapist Shiv Kumar Yadav (C) following his court appearance in New Delhi on December 8, 2014. Delhi\'s government on December 8 banned Uber from operating in the Indian capital after a passenger accused one of its drivers of rape, dealing a fresh blow to the reputation of online taxi service. The controversial US-based company has come in for heavy criticism in India since a young company executive said she had been raped by an Uber driver, who had previously been accused of assault. AFP PHOTO / CHANDAN KHANNA (Photo credit should read Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHANDAN KHANNA via Getty Images)
INDIA-CRIME-RAPE-TRANSPORT-UBER(04 of28)
An Indian policewoman gestures as she and other police officials escort Uber taxi driver and accused rapist Shiv Kumar Yadav (C) following his court appearance in New Delhi on December 8, 2014. Delhi\'s government on December 8 banned Uber from operating in the Indian capital after a passenger accused one of its drivers of rape, dealing a fresh blow to the reputation of online taxi service. The controversial US-based company has come in for heavy criticism in India since a young company executive said she had been raped by an Uber driver, who had previously been accused of assault. AFP PHOTO / CHANDAN KHANNA (Photo credit should read Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHANDAN KHANNA via Getty Images)
INDIA-CRIME-RAPE-TRANSPORT-UBER(05 of28)
Indian police escort Uber taxi driver and accused rapist Shiv Kumar Yadav (C, in black) following his court appearance in New Delhi on December 8, 2014. Delhi\'s government on December 8 banned Uber from operating in the Indian capital after a passenger accused one of its drivers of rape, dealing a fresh blow to the reputation of online taxi service. The controversial US-based company has come in for heavy criticism in India since a young company executive said she had been raped by an Uber driver, who had previously been accused of assault. AFP PHOTO / CHANDAN KHANNA (Photo credit should read Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHANDAN KHANNA via Getty Images)
INDIA-CRIME-RAPE-TRANSPORT-UBER(06 of28)
Indian police escort Uber taxi driver and accused rapist Shiv Kumar Yadav (C) following his court appearance in New Delhi on December 8, 2014. Delhi\'s government on December 8 banned Uber from operating in the Indian capital after a passenger accused one of its drivers of rape, dealing a fresh blow to the reputation of online taxi service. The controversial US-based company has come in for heavy criticism in India since a young company executive said she had been raped by an Uber driver, who had previously been accused of assault. AFP PHOTO / CHANDAN KHANNA (Photo credit should read Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHANDAN KHANNA via Getty Images)
INDIA-CRIME-RAPE-TRANSPORT-UBER(07 of28)
Indian police escort Uber taxi driver and accused rapist Shiv Kumar Yadav following his court appearance in New Delhi on December 8, 2014. Delhi\'s government on December 8 banned Uber from operating in the Indian capital after a passenger accused one of its drivers of rape, dealing a fresh blow to the reputation of online taxi service. The controversial US-based company has come in for heavy criticism in India since a young company executive said she had been raped by an Uber driver, who had previously been accused of assault. AFP PHOTO / CHANDAN KHANNA (Photo credit should read Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHANDAN KHANNA via Getty Images)
INDIA-CRIME-RAPE-TRANSPORT-UBER(08 of28)
Indian police escort Uber taxi driver and accused rapist Shiv Kumar Yadav (C, in black) following his court appearance in New Delhi on December 8, 2014. Delhi\'s government on December 8 banned Uber from operating in the Indian capital after a passenger accused one of its drivers of rape, dealing a fresh blow to the reputation of online taxi service. The controversial US-based company has come in for heavy criticism in India since a young company executive said she had been raped by an Uber driver, who had previously been accused of assault. AFP PHOTO / CHANDAN KHANNA (Photo credit should read Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHANDAN KHANNA via Getty Images)
INDIA-CRIME-RAPE-TRANSPORT-UBER(09 of28)
Indian police escort Uber taxi driver and accused rapist Shiv Kumar Yadav (C) following his court appearance in New Delhi on December 8, 2014. Delhi\'s government on December 8 banned Uber from operating in the Indian capital after a passenger accused one of its drivers of rape, dealing a fresh blow to the reputation of online taxi service. The controversial US-based company has come in for heavy criticism in India since a young company executive said she had been raped by an Uber driver, who had previously been accused of assault. AFP PHOTO / CHANDAN KHANNA (Photo credit should read Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHANDAN KHANNA via Getty Images)
INDIA-CRIME-RAPE-TRANSPORT-UBER(10 of28)
Indian police escort Uber taxi driver and accused rapist Shiv Kumar Yadav (C, in black) following his court appearance in New Delhi on December 8, 2014. Delhi\'s government on December 8 banned Uber from operating in the Indian capital after a passenger accused one of its drivers of rape, dealing a fresh blow to the reputation of online taxi service. The controversial US-based company has come in for heavy criticism in India since a young company executive said she had been raped by an Uber driver, who had previously been accused of assault. AFP PHOTO / CHANDAN KHANNA (Photo credit should read Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHANDAN KHANNA via Getty Images)
INDIA-CRIME-RAPE-TRANSPORT-UBER(11 of28)
Indian police escort Uber taxi driver and accused rapist Shiv Kumar Yadav following his court appearance in New Delhi on December 8, 2014. Delhi\'s government on December 8 banned Uber from operating in the Indian capital after a passenger accused one of its drivers of rape, dealing a fresh blow to the reputation of online taxi service. The controversial US-based company has come in for heavy criticism in India since a young company executive said she had been raped by an Uber driver, who had previously been accused of assault. AFP PHOTO / CHANDAN KHANNA (Photo credit should read Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHANDAN KHANNA via Getty Images)
Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Protest Against Uber Rape(12 of28)
NEW DELHI, INDIA - DECEMBER 7: Jawaharlal Nehru University Students\' Union (JNUSU) shout slogan against Delhi Police, hold protest against the shocking rape by UBER Cab Driver at PHQ ITO, on December 7, 2014 in New Delhi, India. A 27-year-old woman was allegedly raped by the driver of the cab she had hired through Uber to return home from a dinner party in Gurgaon on Friday night. The incident took place at around 9:30 pm when the woman, who works for a finance company in Gurgaon, was headed back to her home in north Delhi\'s Inderlok area. A rape case has been registered against the accused Shiv Kumar Yadav, 32 at Sarai Rohilla police station under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Protest Against Uber Rape(13 of28)
NEW DELHI, INDIA - DECEMBER 7: Jawaharlal Nehru University Students\' Union (JNUSU) shout slogan against Delhi Police, hold protest against the shocking rape by UBER Cab Driver at PHQ ITO, on December 7, 2014 in New Delhi, India. A 27-year-old woman was allegedly raped by the driver of the cab she had hired through Uber to return home from a dinner party in Gurgaon on Friday night. The incident took place at around 9:30 pm when the woman, who works for a finance company in Gurgaon, was headed back to her home in north Delhi\'s Inderlok area. A rape case has been registered against the accused Shiv Kumar Yadav, 32 at Sarai Rohilla police station under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Protest Against Uber Rape(14 of28)
NEW DELHI, INDIA - DECEMBER 7: Jawaharlal Nehru University Students\' Union (JNUSU) shout slogan against Delhi Police, hold protest against the shocking rape by UBER Cab Driver at PHQ ITO, on December 7, 2014 in New Delhi, India. A 27-year-old woman was allegedly raped by the driver of the cab she had hired through Uber to return home from a dinner party in Gurgaon on Friday night. The incident took place at around 9:30 pm when the woman, who works for a finance company in Gurgaon, was headed back to her home in north Delhi\'s Inderlok area. A rape case has been registered against the accused Shiv Kumar Yadav, 32 at Sarai Rohilla police station under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Protest Against Uber Rape(15 of28)
NEW DELHI, INDIA - DECEMBER 7: Jawaharlal Nehru University Students\' Union (JNUSU) shout slogan against Delhi Police, hold protest against the shocking rape by UBER Cab Driver at PHQ ITO, on December 7, 2014 in New Delhi, India. A 27-year-old woman was allegedly raped by the driver of the cab she had hired through Uber to return home from a dinner party in Gurgaon on Friday night. The incident took place at around 9:30 pm when the woman, who works for a finance company in Gurgaon, was headed back to her home in north Delhi\'s Inderlok area. A rape case has been registered against the accused Shiv Kumar Yadav, 32 at Sarai Rohilla police station under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Protest Against Uber Rape(16 of28)
NEW DELHI, INDIA - DECEMBER 7: Jawaharlal Nehru University Students\' Union (JNUSU) shout slogan against Delhi Police, hold protest against the shocking rape by UBER Cab Driver at PHQ ITO, on December 7, 2014 in New Delhi, India. A 27-year-old woman was allegedly raped by the driver of the cab she had hired through Uber to return home from a dinner party in Gurgaon on Friday night. The incident took place at around 9:30 pm when the woman, who works for a finance company in Gurgaon, was headed back to her home in north Delhi\'s Inderlok area. A rape case has been registered against the accused Shiv Kumar Yadav, 32 at Sarai Rohilla police station under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Protest Against Uber Rape(17 of28)
NEW DELHI, INDIA - DECEMBER 7: Jawaharlal Nehru University Students\' Union (JNUSU) shout slogan against Delhi Police, hold protest against the shocking rape by UBER Cab Driver at PHQ ITO, on December 7, 2014 in New Delhi, India. A 27-year-old woman was allegedly raped by the driver of the cab she had hired through Uber to return home from a dinner party in Gurgaon on Friday night. The incident took place at around 9:30 pm when the woman, who works for a finance company in Gurgaon, was headed back to her home in north Delhi\'s Inderlok area. A rape case has been registered against the accused Shiv Kumar Yadav, 32 at Sarai Rohilla police station under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Protest Against Uber Rape(18 of28)
NEW DELHI, INDIA - DECEMBER 7: Jawaharlal Nehru University Students\' Union (JNUSU) shout slogan against Delhi Police, hold protest against the shocking rape by UBER Cab Driver at PHQ ITO, on December 7, 2014 in New Delhi, India. A 27-year-old woman was allegedly raped by the driver of the cab she had hired through Uber to return home from a dinner party in Gurgaon on Friday night. The incident took place at around 9:30 pm when the woman, who works for a finance company in Gurgaon, was headed back to her home in north Delhi\'s Inderlok area. A rape case has been registered against the accused Shiv Kumar Yadav, 32 at Sarai Rohilla police station under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Protest Against Uber Rape(19 of28)
NEW DELHI, INDIA - DECEMBER 7: Jawaharlal Nehru University Students\' Union (JNUSU) shout slogan against Delhi Police, hold protest against the shocking rape by UBER Cab Driver at PHQ ITO, on December 7, 2014 in New Delhi, India. A 27-year-old woman was allegedly raped by the driver of the cab she had hired through Uber to return home from a dinner party in Gurgaon on Friday night. The incident took place at around 9:30 pm when the woman, who works for a finance company in Gurgaon, was headed back to her home in north Delhi\'s Inderlok area. A rape case has been registered against the accused Shiv Kumar Yadav, 32 at Sarai Rohilla police station under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Protest Against Uber Rape(20 of28)
NEW DELHI, INDIA - DECEMBER 7: Jawaharlal Nehru University Students\' Union (JNUSU) shout slogan against Delhi Police, hold protest against the shocking rape by UBER Cab Driver at PHQ ITO, on December 7, 2014 in New Delhi, India. A 27-year-old woman was allegedly raped by the driver of the cab she had hired through Uber to return home from a dinner party in Gurgaon on Friday night. The incident took place at around 9:30 pm when the woman, who works for a finance company in Gurgaon, was headed back to her home in north Delhi\'s Inderlok area. A rape case has been registered against the accused Shiv Kumar Yadav, 32 at Sarai Rohilla police station under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Uber Head Of Asia Operations Address Media On Delhi Rape Case(21 of28)
NEW DELHI, INDIA - DECEMBER 9: Allen Penn, Ubers head of Asia operations talking with media persons regarding Uber cab rape case the on December 9, 2014 in New Delhi, India. Cab booking service Uber refuted allegations that it does not track its on-duty cabs and revealed that it had GPS data of the taxi ride during which a 25-year-old financial analyst was allegedly raped by the cabbie on night. The company operates in around 10 Indian cities. India ordered state governments to halt the operations of all unregistered, web-based taxi companies. (Photo by Sanjeev Verma/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
INDIA-CRIME-RAPE-TRANSPORT-UBER(22 of28)
Indian Uber Cabs General Manager for Delhi Gagan Bhatia (R) meets with the Chairperson of the Delhi Woman Commission Barkha Shukla Singh in New Delhi on December 9, 2014. Delhi\'s government on December 8 banned Uber from operating in the Indian capital after a passenger accused one of its drivers of rape, dealing a fresh blow to the reputation of online taxi service. The controversial US-based company has come in for heavy criticism in India since a young company executive said she had been raped by an Uber driver, who had previously been accused of assault. AFP PHOTO / CHANDAN KHANNA (Photo credit should read Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHANDAN KHANNA via Getty Images)
AAP Protest Against Rape By A Uber Cab Driver(23 of28)
NEW DELHI, INDIA - DECEMBER 8: Supporters of Aam Aadmi Party shout slogans as they participate in a candle light vigil during a protest against the rape of a female passenger on December 8, 2014 in New Delhi, India. A 32-year-old Uber cab driver Shiv Kumar Yadav is accused of raping the 25-year-old working woman in Delhi Friday night. The incident took place when the woman hired the Uber taxi from Vasant Vihar in south Delhi to go home Friday night. (Photo by Subrata Biswas/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
AAP Protest Against Rape By A Uber Cab Driver(24 of28)
NEW DELHI, INDIA - DECEMBER 8: Supporters of Aam Aadmi Party shout slogans as they participate in a candle light vigil during a protest against the rape of a female passenger on December 8, 2014 in New Delhi, India. A 32-year-old Uber cab driver Shiv Kumar Yadav is accused of raping the 25-year-old working woman in Delhi Friday night. The incident took place when the woman hired the Uber taxi from Vasant Vihar in south Delhi to go home Friday night. (Photo by Subrata Biswas/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
AIDWA Activists Protest Against Rape By A Uber Cab Driver(25 of28)
NEW DELHI, INDIA - DECEMBER 8: AIDWA women Activists protesting against rape of a 25-year woman by a taxi driver of an Uber taxi at Delhi Police HQ on December 8, 2014 in New Delhi, India. A 32-year-old Uber cab driver Shiv Kumar Yadav is accused of raping the 25-year-old working woman in Delhi Friday night. The incident took place when the woman hired the Uber taxi from Vasant Vihar in south Delhi to go home Friday night. (Photo by Arvind Yadav/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
AIDWA Activists Protest Against Rape By A Uber Cab Driver(26 of28)
NEW DELHI, INDIA - DECEMBER 8: CPI-M leader Brinda Karat during a protest after a woman was allegedly raped by a Uber taxi driver at Delhi Police HQ on December 8, 2014 in New Delhi, India. A 32-year-old Uber cab driver Shiv Kumar Yadav is accused of raping the 25-year-old working woman in Delhi Friday night. The incident took place when the woman hired the Uber taxi from Vasant Vihar in south Delhi to go home Friday night. (Photo by Arvind Yadav/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Uber Cab Rape Case: Accused Sent To Three Day Police Remand(27 of28)
NEW DELHI, INDIA DECEMBER 8: Police escort Uber cab driver Shiv Kumar Yadav (C, in black) who is accused of raping a woman, following his court appearance at the Tis Hazari court on December 8, 2014 in New Delhi, India. Shiv Kumar Yadav was remanded in custody for three days while police investigates the case. Delhi government banned Uber from operating in the Indian capital for failing to do background check on Shiv Kumar, who had previously been accused of assault. (Photo by Raj K Raj/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Uber Cab Rape Case: Accused Sent To Three Day Police Remand(28 of28)
NEW DELHI, INDIA DECEMBER 8: Police escort Uber cab driver Shiv Kumar Yadav (C, in black) who is accused of raping a woman, following his court appearance at the Tis Hazari court on December 8, 2014 in New Delhi, India. Shiv Kumar Yadav was remanded in custody for three days while police investigates the case. Delhi government banned Uber from operating in the Indian capital for failing to do background check on Shiv Kumar, who had previously been accused of assault. (Photo by Raj K Raj/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
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