Technology

Food delivery companies fight NYC wage law

by Rebecca Klar and Ines Kagubare 07/07/23 06:06 PM CDT

A delivery man bikes with a food bag from Grubhub, Wednesday, April 21, 2021 in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Welcome to The Hill’s Technology newsletter

{beacon}

Technology

The Big Story

Food delivery companies sue NYC over wage rule

Uber, DoorDash and Grubhub sued New York City Thursday over a new rule that would require the food delivery companies to pay their workers nearly $18 an hour.

In two lawsuits filed in the New York Supreme Court, the food delivery companies sued to block the rule from going into effect next week.

DoorDash and Grubhub argued in a joint suit that the “ill-conceived” rule would have “drastic” and “immediate” consequences.

Uber warned in a separate lawsuit that the city’s “grand marketplace experiment risks crushing restaurants and the increasingly important food delivery market.”

The rule requires food delivery companies to pay their couriers $17.96 per hour starting July 12. This would increase to $18.96 an hour in April 2024 and $19.96 in April 2025.

“Our delivery workers have consistently delivered for us — now, we are delivering for them,” Adams said during the June announcement.

Read more in a full report at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Technology newsletter, we’re Rebecca Klar and Ines Kagubare — tracking the latest moves from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley.

🎆 But first, check out The Hill’s Photos of the Week here.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.

Essential Reads

How policy will be impacting the tech sector now and in the future:

Canadian court finds an emoji is as good as a contract signature

A Canadian court found that a thumbs-up emoji was as legally valid as a contract signature in a dispute between a farmer and a grain buyer in Saskatchewan. South West Terminal (SWT), a grain and crops input company, sued Achter Land & Cattle for breach of contract after it failed to deliver 87 metric tonnes of flax that SWT claimed it had agreed to with a thumbs-up emoji in a March 2021 text exchange. Justice T.J. Keene …

Full Story

Prosecutors in Trump Mar-a-Lago case facing online threats, harassment: report

Prosecutors working on the classified documents case against former President Trump have reportedly faced threats and harassment as the legal battle proceeds. The Washington Post, citing a government official and extremism experts, reported Thursday that prosecutors involved in the case have faced significant harassment and threats online and elsewhere.

Full Story

Justice Department requests stay in social media case: Decision risks ‘grave harm’

The Justice Department on Thursday night requested a stay against a federal judge’s order limiting the Biden administration’s communication with social media companies over free speech concerns. Lawyers — led by Brian Boynton, principal deputy assistant attorney general — wrote in a filing before U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty in Louisiana that the order’s “broad scope and ambiguous terms” prevent the government from …

Full Story

The Refresh

News we’ve flagged from the intersection of tech and other topics:

Musk teases new timeline for self-driving cars

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, speaking at the 2023 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, said the company may achieve “full self-driving” vehicles “later this year,” Mashable reported.

How Telegram is being used during war

The Verge reported on how the messaging app Telegram has become an influential force since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

On Our Radar

Upcoming news themes and events we’re watching:

The Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing to consider nominations to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET.

In Other News

Branch out with other reads on The Hill:

Biden takes aim at ‘junk’ insurance, vowing to save money for consumers being played as ‘suckers’

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Friday rolled out a new set of initiatives to reduce health care costs: a crackdown on what he called “junk” insurance plans that play consumers as ‘suckers,’ new guidance to prevent surprise medical bills and an effort to reduce medical debt tied to credit cards.

Full Story

What to stream this weekend: Taylor Swift, ‘Lincoln Lawyer,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’

Taylor Swift’s rerecording of her “Speak Now” and survivalist Bear Grylls taking Bradley Cooper and Rita Ora into the wild are among the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you. Among the offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists …

Full Story

What Others are Reading

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

Bench trial set for two Oath Keepers, an ex-actor and ex-Marine

An ex-Broadway actor and an ex-Marine — both members of the right-wing militia Oath Keepers — will face trial for their alleged roles … Read more

Ex-HHS secretary on backing Trump: ‘He can kiss my big medical butt’

Former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price said there is “no way” he would back former President Trump in 2024 for a second White House run. … Read more

What Others are Reading

Opinions related to tech submitted to The Hill:

‘True’ or ‘crazy’? UFO whistleblowers coming ‘out of the woodwork’

You’re all caught up. See you next week!

The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Technology newsletter

Technology

Technology

Food delivery companies sue NYC over wage rule

Technology