An Indian government body has sent notices to ride-hailing firms Ola and Uber over alleged differential pricing for Android and Apple phones, the country’s consumer affairs minister, Pralhad Joshi, said in a post on X on Thursday.
Reuters notes that the move comes after several reports by local media and as users complained on social media that iPhone users were charged higher prices for the same ride than those using phones that ran on Android operating systems.
The minister said he would direct the Central Consumer Protection Agency (CCPA) to also look into differential pricing strategies used by other sectors, including food delivery and online ticketing portals. However, an Uber spokesperson told Reuters that “We do not set prices based on a rider’s phone manufacturer. We look forward to working with the Central Consumer Protection Authority to clear up any misunderstanding.”
