- Uber mistakenly bans Australian woman Swastika Chandra due to her Sanskrit first name.
- Chandra’s name holds cultural significance, representing good fortune in Sanskrit and various Asian religions.
- After interventions from Hindu Council of Australia and others, Uber reinstates Chandra’s account and issues an apology.
Uber faced backlash after erroneously banning Australian woman Swastika Chandra from using its services due to her Sanskrit first name. Chandra encountered the issue while attempting to order food from Uber Eats, prompting a notification to change her name as it supposedly violated company guidelines. However, Chandra’s name, derived from Sanskrit, carries cultural significance representing good fortune, predating its association with Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.
Despite protests from Chandra, it took interventions from the Hindu Council of Australia and the New South Wales attorney-general for Uber to reinstate her account after five months. Uber apologized for the inconvenience caused, acknowledging the oversight and expressing appreciation for Chandra’s patience during the review process. The incident highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and understanding in corporate policies, especially concerning diverse names and backgrounds.
