An Uber Exec Brought Up The Idea Of Digging Up Dirt On Journalists

Emil Michael, who came to Uber from Klout

Uber executive Emil Michael said that the company could spend a “million dollars” to hire investigators and reporters to dig up dirt on journalists who wrote negative articles about the company, according to a report on Buzzfeed.

The remarks were made in the presence of a Buzzfeed reporter at a dinner that Michael thought was off the record. Michael has since said that the remarks were “borne out of frustration” and “do not reflect my actual views and have no relation to the company’s views or approach.” An Uber spokesperson also said that the company has never considered doing opposition research.

The remarks were partly aimed at journalist Sarah Lacy, who has been critical of some of Uber’s recent moves.

Even if Uber would never actually hire opposition researchers, this is a pretty big lapse of judgment for a company who has looked to improve its image in the wake of reports about its cutthroat business tactics, such as reportedly placing calls for rides to rival Lyft then canceling them at the last minute. 

Read the full report over at Buzzfeed.