Natalie Lung

Natalie Lung

@natalielung.com

Breaking News about Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, dating & consumer apps at Bloomberg News. Previously covered Hong Kong politics. Drumming in my free time 🥁🕺🏻Views my own. Tips? 📲 Signal: @nlfy.15 or 📧 flung6@bloomberg.net

3.9K followers70 following35 posts

Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

NEW: Will the Apple Watch’s new always-listening features be illegal in states that require all parties’ consent for recording? Attorneys in CA, MA, PA and WA aren’t convinced that Apple’s privacy protections will sufficiently shield users from legal problems. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comApple’s Always-Listening Watch Features Test Eavesdropping LawsApple Inc.’s new always-listening artificial intelligence features for the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 could put eavesdropping laws to the test, according to legal experts.
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

Headed soon to Dataharvest conference in Mechelen, Belgium to present on our process and crowdsourcing tips from Bloomberg's investigation on Uber and Lyft ride share lockouts. It'll be my first dataj event in Europe - please say hi! #EIJC25 dataharvest25.sched.com/event/1zv0e?...

dataharvest25.sched.comDataharvest 2025 - the European Investigative Journalism Conference: Using WhatsApp to crowdsource dataView more about this event at Dataharvest 2025 - the European Investigative Journalism Conference
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

scoop: Food delivery company Grubhub is reviving the quarter-century-old Seamless brand in New York, its biggest market, in a bid to drive growth in a key city as it lags behind rivals nationally www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comGrubhub Revives Seamless Delivery Brand in Key NYC MarketFood delivery company Grubhub is reviving the quarter-century-old Seamless brand in New York, its biggest market, in a bid to drive growth in a key city as it lags behind rivals nationally.
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

Tinder is finding different ways to boost engagement among Gen Z daters (50% of user base). Ot has been testing a double-dating feature, and as I found out, is taking another page from mobile games by promising more in-app matches and rewards if users log into the app consistently for a week:

Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

I wrote today that Tinder is leaning into AI bots in new voice-based game that uses OpenAI's 4o + 4o-mini to test users’ flirting skills. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s tech newsletter for my first-hand experience interacting with them. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comTinder Unveils Playful AI Chatbots in Bid to Boost EngagementMatch Group Inc.’s Tinder unveiled an in-app game that invites users to flirt with artificially intelligent chatbots, part of a larger effort to return the dating app to growth by boosting user engage...
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

Lyft just gave a more precise timeline for its planned 2025 autonomous launch with May Mobility in Atlanta, saying it will roll out "as soon as this summer". A company blog post today also addresses its vision for the future of its (human) gig workforce 👇 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comLyft to Offer Driverless Ride-Hails ‘as Soon as This Summer’Lyft Inc. said it plans to offer driverless vehicles on its platform “as soon as this summer,” and that it sees human drivers transitioning to other work such as fleet management as autonomous rides b...
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

Also note: Lyft is catching up here in terms of launching driverless rides with its AV tech partners. Atlanta would be its first market with autonomous cars. Uber and Waymo are also launching in ATL this summer. It will be their 3rd market together after Phoenix and Austin.

Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

Bumble is adding ID verification to its dating app alongside other new features, an attempt to court safety-conscious younger users key to its turnaround plans. www.bloomberg.com/news/article... Note: Founder Wolfe Herde is returning as CEO today, >1 year after handing reins to ex-Slack CEO Jones.

bloomberg.comBumble Rolls Out ID Verification in Dating App Safety PushBumble Inc. is adding ID verification to its dating app alongside other new features, an attempt to court safety-conscious younger users who are key to the company’s turnaround plans.
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

Details in Match new CEO’s note to employees today: Co will “streamline” ops, invest in growth areas and set up a confidential channel for its employees to share ideas with leadership to rebuild user trust in its dating apps (Co has 3 activist investors to date) www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comTinder Owner’s New CEO Signals Urgency to Rebuild User TrustMatch Group Inc. will “streamline operations,” invest in growth areas and set up a confidential channel for its employees to share ideas with the executive team to improve its dating apps, said the co...
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

A Lyft spokesperson now confirms Lyft Silver, the offering designed for senior riders, is coming later this year. Users can sign up to get notified when it launches in their markets here: lyft.com/rider/silver

lyft.comGet early access to Lyft SilverA new way for older adults to ride with independence. Coming later this year.
Natalie Lung@natalielung.com

Scoop: Lyft is working on a simplified version of its app for elderly riders, according to a Bloomberg review of the iOS app code, as Lyft seeks to further differentiate itself from rival Uber www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comLyft Working on Simpler Version of Its App for Elderly RidersLyft Inc. is working on a simplified version of its app for elderly riders, part of an effort to further differentiate itself from rival Uber Technologies Inc.
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

Scoop: Lyft is working on a simplified version of its app for elderly riders, according to a Bloomberg review of the iOS app code, as Lyft seeks to further differentiate itself from rival Uber www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comLyft Working on Simpler Version of Its App for Elderly RidersLyft Inc. is working on a simplified version of its app for elderly riders, part of an effort to further differentiate itself from rival Uber Technologies Inc.
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

Wayve, the self-driving co that raised >$1b last year from SoftBank, NVDA, MSFT, Uber, said it’s nearing a commercial debut with major automakers. It also published new data claiming its AI model can adapt to US behaviors faster, with less $ than existing methods. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comSoftBank-Backed Self-Driving Firm Wayve Nears Commercial DebutWayve Technologies Ltd., the self-driving startup that raised more than $1 billion last year from investors including SoftBank Group Corp., said it’s nearing a commercial debut with major automakers.
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

London-based Wayve has been testing its driver-assistance software on the road beyond the UK, first in SF last Oct. and in Germany earlier this month. "500 hours to generalize to California is remarkable, and we saw that even less has been required for our launch in Germany," CEO Alex Kendall said.

Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

New investigation: We have been digging into how US apps like FB, Tinder & Airbnb are used for sex trafficking in Colombia. Headlines have focused largely on how men are killed by their Tinder dates. BTS, the women are often controlled by gangs who exploit the apps to conduct business. Gift link 👇

View full thread
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

Our reporting shows the prevalence of Meta, Tinder and Airbnb in Colombia & reveals how encrypted tools and loose oversight over platform users pose low barriers to predators seeking to lure minors into sex work and arrange dates and accommodations with tourists from abroad.

Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

New investigation: We have been digging into how US apps like FB, Tinder & Airbnb are used for sex trafficking in Colombia. Headlines have focused largely on how men are killed by their Tinder dates. BTS, the women are often controlled by gangs who exploit the apps to conduct business. Gift link 👇

Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

In the past year, we have spoken to several girls who said they were victims of sexual exploitation in Colombia, as well as more than two dozen representatives of law enforcement, academia, local businesses and nonprofits seeking to curb child trafficking. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

bloomberg.comFacebook, Tinder and Airbnb Apps are Used for Sex Trafficking in ColombiaBetter internet service, the proliferation of US apps and an influx of tourists have converged to facilitate the exploitation of minors in Colombia
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

News on Uber's latest lobbying effort: a multimillion dollar ad campaign to push for reforms in insurance policies that it says have been exploited by personal injury lawyers and contribute to higher ride prices www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comUber Targets Personal Injury Lawyers in Multimillion Dollar Ad CampaignUber Technologies Inc. is pouring millions of dollars into a national ad campaign to push for reforms in insurance policies that it says have been exploited by personal injury lawyers and contribute t...
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

Exclusive: MyFitnessPal, the food and calorie-tracking app, bought AI startup Intent and will soon debut AI-powered meal plans, a feature the company hopes will boost sign-ups and subscriptions www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comMyFitnessPal to Offer Personalized AI Meal Planning After Quietly Buying StartupMyFitnessPal, the food and calorie-tracking app, bought an artificial intelligence startup and will soon debut AI-powered meal plans, a feature the company hopes will boost sign-ups and subscriptions.
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

NYC rideshare regulator said Uber and Lyft are “spreading disinformation” in their new email campaigns to drivers and riders about proposed rules that would give drivers a roughly 6% pay hike www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comNYC Slams Uber, Lyft for ‘Disinformation’ on Driver Pay HikeNew York City’s rideshare regulator said Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. are “spreading disinformation” in emails sent to drivers and riders about proposed rules that would give drivers a roughly...
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

scoop: FTC is probing whether Uber, Lyft illegally coordinated to limit NYC driver pay. The firms confirmed they received official info requests from the agency. A 2024 Bloomberg investigation showed how the firms used lockouts to save them millions in driver pay. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comUber, Lyft Face Antitrust Probe Over NYC Driver Pay DealThe US Federal Trade Commission is probing whether Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. illegally coordinated to limit driver pay in New York City, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg News.
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

scoop: I reviewed Uber’s iOS app code and found that it has been working on a new $2.99 pass that would let commuters lock in prices for frequent rides ahead of time, rivaling a popular feature that Lyft launched five months ago Details here: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comUber Working on Price-Lock Pass to Rival Popular Lyft FeatureUber Technologies Inc. is working on a new paid offering that would let commuters lock in prices for frequent rides ahead of time, rivaling a popular feature that Lyft Inc. launched five months ago.
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

Three former engineering leaders from Google, Meta and Samsung have raised $10 million for a new startup focused on making artificial intelligence-powered customer sales agents more polite and brand-aware www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comEx-Google, Meta Execs Building Emotionally Aware AI Sales AgentsThree former engineering leaders from Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Meta Platforms Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. have raised $10 million for a new startup focused on making artificial intelligence-powere...
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

You'll likely see more competing op-eds about short-term rentals in NYC this year. Both Airbnb and the well-resourced hotel union are funding and running ads voicing out on a municipal bill that'd roll back parts of the city's Airbnb ban (article from last week:) www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comAirbnb to Spend Millions in Lobbying New York to Ease Rental BanAirbnb Inc. is pouring millions into a pair of New York political campaigns as it pushes back against short-term rental restrictions that took more than 80% of its NYC listings offline within a year.
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

NYC is trying to close a loophole that Uber, Lyft have used to deny drivers $mlns in pay with a raft of new measures that would effectively raise their rates by roughly 6.1%. The regulator has vowed to amend rules after a Bloomberg investigation on the practice: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comNYC Is Trying to End Uber, Lyft Driver Lockouts With a Pay HikeNew York City is trying to close a loophole that Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. have used to deny drivers millions of dollars in pay with a raft of new measures that would effectively raise thei...
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

Scoop: New York is considering asking property insurers to cover claims of insolvent American Transit, which insures 60% NYC cabs/Ubers. Why? The usual funds govt uses to assure coverage of an insolvent insurer are *insufficient* to cover for ATIC’s >$670m claims. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comNew York Considers Making Property Insurers Cover Taxi Claims LossesNew York is considering asking property and casualty insurers to cover the claims of insolvent taxi insurer American Transit Insurance Co., according to people familiar with the plans.
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

While a taxpayer bailout isn’t likely, consumers could still end up footing some of the bill if insurers pass on the cost from having to cover for ATIC, according to Matthew Daus, a former commissioner at the Taxi and Limousine Commission regulatory agency.

Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

At the heart of Uber’s opposition against NYC’s proposed changes to auto insurance rule are the words “solvent” & responsible” NYC wants only insurers with those qualities to cover cabs, rideshares. But cab insurer ATIC, now covering >60% of market, is insolvent. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comUber Warns NYC Response to Insolvent Insurer Exposes DriversUber Technologies Inc. is asking New York City’s taxi regulator to reconsider proposed changes to commercial auto insurance requirements, saying they may unintentionally leave thousands of drivers in ...
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

SCOOP: Uber’s gig-economy workforce now includes programmers and language experts. The company is expanding beyond its rideshare roots to enter a hot new market: helping other businesses outsource AI training and data labeling work to contractors. gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comUber Expands Into AI Data Labeling Using Gig-Coders for HireUber Technologies Inc.’s gig-economy workforce now includes programmers. The company is expanding beyond its rideshare roots to enter a hot new market: helping other businesses outsource some of their...

Natalie Lung reposted

Dana Hull
@danahull.bsky.social

NEW from the paragraph factory: Elon Musk runs six companies. Now, @chafkin.bsky.social and I lay out the case for how his political project is basically the 7th. And yes, we have a line about the squirrel. GIFT LINK: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

bloomberg.comElon Musk Has a New Project to Run: Trump’s GovernmentAfter plowing at least $132 million into the president-elect’s campaign, the richest man in the world is about to treat the US government as if it were a money-losing social network.
Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

Uber is threatening to fire NYC drivers if the taxi regulator raises driver rates. It says trip growth has declined after the prior increases were passed onto customers. The co is upping its lobbying rhetoric as the city is preparing changes to min. pay rules before EOY. medium.com/uber-under-t...

Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

Uber is threatening to fire NYC drivers if the taxi regulator raises driver rates. It says trip growth has declined after the prior increases were passed onto customers. The co is upping its lobbying rhetoric as the city is preparing changes to min. pay rules before EOY. medium.com/uber-under-t...

Natalie Lung
@natalielung.com

There's no indication yet how the regulator might change driver pay rules, which Uber and Lyft gamed for months by temporarily locking drivers out, but the regulator has said it is considering proposals from Uber and a local driver group. I wrote about them here: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Natalie Lung@natalielung.com

Uber is threatening to fire NYC drivers if the taxi regulator raises driver rates. It says trip growth has declined after the prior increases were passed onto customers. The co is upping its lobbying rhetoric as the city is preparing changes to min. pay rules before EOY. medium.com/uber-under-t...

You are up to date.