French taxi drivers should embrace Uber-style technology: minister

A French flag is seen on a striking taxi as drivers block traffic during a demonstration at Porte Maillot during a national protest about competition from private car ride firms like Uber, in Paris, France, January 26, 2016. Picture taken January 26, 2016. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

PARIS/MARSEILLE: France's economy minister urged licensed taxi drivers to embrace modern methods such as GPS-based mobile phone applications that have helped rival car ride services such as Uber grow at their expense. 

The appeal came as anti-Uber protests by traditional taxi drivers snarled traffic for days, despite government efforts to resolve a row that has come to symbolise the challenge such industries face in the Internet age.