Uber ordered to a take down billboards in Egypt for 'violating tradition'

Egypt’s Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) ordered on Saturday cab-hailing service Uber to take down some its advertising billboards for “violating society’s customs and traditions,” according to a CPA statement published by state news agency MENA.

The CPA ordered Uber to take down a billboard showing an old woman in the backseat of a car with the caption “[thanks to Uber], I was spared 64 times from driving my mother-in-law home.”

Head of the CPA Atef Yacoub said in the statement that the billboard violated Article 2 of the consumer protection law, which perserves consumers’ right to personal dignity, respect of their religion and Egyptian society’s traditions and customs.

The CPA said that Uber has agreed to discontinue this particular advertising campaign.

Prior to the CPA’s decision, Egyptians had expressed their displeasure with the ad on social media.

Spokesperson for Uber Egypt Mai Abaza told Ahram Online that the issue was resolved with the CPA over a week ago and that the company removed all the billboards by 20 March.

"We apologise if one of our campaign billboards offended anyone -- it was not our intention. We respect and appreciate all feedback and will act accordingly,” the company said in an emailed statement

Source: Ahram online