Lyft drivers sue Uber saying it spied on them to gain edge

Some states and localities are starting to tax ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft, a sign governments seek to overhaul their tax structures in response to a rapidly changing economy. (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Lyft Inc drivers accused Uber Technologies Inc of illegally tracking their whereabouts using spyware code-named Hell to gain a competitive edge in the ride-hailing market. 

Uber engaged in “illegal, surreptitious, and unauthorized remote electronic surveillance” and intruded on the privacy of Lyft drivers, according to the complaint filed Monday as a class action in San Francisco federal court.