Car-Sharing App Turo Under Fire After Vehicles Linked to New Orleans and Las Vegas Attacks
.jpg)
Recent tragic events in New Orleans and Las Vegas have brought attention to Turo, a peer-to-peer car-sharing platform often likened to "Airbnb for cars." In both incidents, vehicles rented through Turo were used to carry out attacks, raising concerns about the platform's safety measures and user vetting processes.
On New Year's Day, Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar drove a rented Ford F-150 pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, resulting in 14 fatalities and numerous injuries. After the collision, Jabbar exited the vehicle and engaged in a shootout with police, leading to his death. Investigations revealed that Jabbar, an Army veteran with a recent conversion to Islam, had rented the truck through Turo. Authorities also discovered explosives in the vehicle and in a nearby Airbnb he had rented.
Hours after the New Orleans tragedy, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, killing the driver, Matthew Livelsberger, and injuring several others. Livelsberger, an active-duty U.S. Army Green Beret, had rented the Cybertruck via Turo. Investigators found that he had suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound prior to the explosion, which is being treated as a potential act of terrorism. Connections between Livelsberger and Jabbar are being explored, including their shared military backgrounds and possible communications.
Turo's Response
In light of these incidents, Turo has expressed deep condolences and is actively cooperating with law enforcement agencies. The company emphasized that both individuals had valid driver's licenses and no prior criminal records that would have flagged them as security risks. Turo reiterated its commitment to safety, highlighting its screening processes for renters and hosts.
These events have intensified scrutiny of Turo's safety protocols. Critics argue that the platform's screening measures may not be sufficient to prevent misuse by individuals with malicious intent. Concerns have been raised about the potential for vehicles rented through peer-to-peer services to be used in criminal activities, given the challenges in thoroughly vetting users.
The use of Turo-rented vehicles in these attacks has prompted a reevaluation of safety and security measures within the car-sharing industry. As investigations continue, there is an increasing call for enhanced vetting processes and stricter regulations to prevent the exploitation of such platforms for harmful purposes.
Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research.
Find more news The Brutal Truth
Comments
Post a Comment