A lawsuit accuses a suspect of grooming two 12-year-old girls online in November 2023 before arranging for an Uber to transport them from their York County homes across state lines to Gaston County, North Carolina. The lawsuit alleges one girl was sexually assaulted while the other was forced to listen to her friend’s suffering.
Attorney Criticizes Uber for Inadequate Protections
Attorney Tracey Cowan, representing the victims’ families, placed blame on Uber for failing to prevent such incidents. “I want to be clear that this is on Uber to stop,” Cowan stated. “Uber knows this is happening.”
Cowan described the devastating impact the event has had on the girls. “They both had to drop out of school,” she said. “They’ve isolated in their homes, and their parents have had to completely restructure their lives to support and protect them.”
Predators Exploiting Rideshare Services
The case sheds light on a growing trend where predators use rideshare services to exploit children. “In many cases, perpetrators meet children online, often through social media, and then send a car for them,” Cowan explained. “They don’t even need to physically show up themselves.”
In this instance, the lawsuit alleges that the girls told the Uber driver they were underage, yet the driver proceeded to transport them an hour away across state lines.
Uber’s Response
Uber released a statement in response to the allegations:
“The details of this incident are horrific. We take our role to combat human trafficking seriously and have spent years investing in prevention efforts, including providing every driver with educational resources on how to identify the signs of human trafficking and report suspected cases.”
Despite these measures, Cowan criticized the company’s lack of effective driver training and safeguards. She and the victims’ families are calling for stricter policies, such as requiring parental permission for all minors using the service.
Advocating for Stronger Protections
This lawsuit highlights the urgent need for rideshare companies to implement robust safety measures to prevent such incidents. “The parents didn’t know, and their parents weren’t with them,” Cowan emphasized, calling for systemic changes to better protect young riders.
By sharing their story, the victims’ families hope to prompt greater accountability and prevent similar tragedies in the future.