A woman was banned from using Uber's ride-sharing and food delivery services because her first name was considered offensive. Swastika Chandra, an Australian lady, explained that her first name means "good luck" in Sanskrit and is common in Fiji, where she grew up.
The incident occurred in October last year when Ms. Chandra tried ordering food through Uber Eats. As she attempted to write down her name for payment processing, she was told that her name was offensive to the company's terms.
"It was in the middle of a food order one afternoon, I had gotten to the payment stage, and then I received this pop-up message that said, 'Your first name is in violation and requires alteration on the app,'" the 35-year-old told A Current Affair.
However, the term is most commonly associated with the Nazi Party of Germany in the West. It took five months to get her account reinstated with the involvement of the Hindu Council of Australia and the attorney general of New South Wales.
"They overlook the fact that Hindus have been using it in a positive manner for centuries, while Hitler abused it." It's a widespread name; I have many other friends with the same name as mine. It is a symbol of good luck and positivity for me. I love my name and will not change it for anyone," she stressed.
The company then apologized to Ms. Chandra and went on to release a statement on its stand to develop a secure and inclusive environment for all users. It acknowledged the incident and reiterated its policy of reviewing such cases individually to ensure fairness. We evaluated her claim and restored Ms. Chandra's access to the app.
