Uber ordered to shut Brussels service within 21 days

A Belgian court today (24 September) confirmed a ban on controversial ride-sharing app UberPOP on Thursday, giving it 21 days to close operations in Brussels or risk massive penalties.

UberPOP is the cheaper and less regulated service from Uber, the Silicon Valley start-up with a valuation of some $50 billion (€45 billion) that launched in capitals across Europe, often in open violation of local taxi laws.

A spokesman for Uber confirmed the decision from the Brussels court, which followed a ban decided in April 2014 that the company ignored.