Córdoba: he was intimidated while recording operations against Uber drivers

Germán Benítez, a libertarian content creator in Córdoba, was recording a video about the situation with Uber in the city of Córdoba. During the recording, he was approached by a police officer. The officer  

The episode was captured in the video, which quickly went viral on social media. The influencer explained that his intention was to raise awareness of the irregular situation of transportation apps. 

The incident occurred while a procedure was being carried out to seize vehicles operating with digital platforms. These operations are driven by union pressure from taxi and remis drivers in the city. For years, taxi unions have resisted Uber's entry into the city.

Serious institutional violation of freedom of expression

Although it was an activity in a public space and a public procedure, the police officer forbade him from continuing to film. The law protects any citizen's right to record officials during public acts. The officer's behavior constitutes an act of intimidation.

The police officer's actions are neither an isolated nor an entirely personal incident. They respond to a municipal policy that, far from enabling an activity already accepted by thousands of Cordobans, continues to choose to negotiate with unions, impose fines, and seize cars. Instead of giving residents the freedom to choose, local authorities choose to uphold corporate privileges at the expense of users and workers.

The influencer was forced to hand over his ID without legal grounds. He was not charged with any crime or infraction. The procedure was neither interrupted nor altered by his presence, which rules out any obstruction.

Hours later, the content creator uploaded the material to his social media accounts, where he has nearly 50,000 followers across all platforms. The video quickly went viral, reaching thousands of views in just a few hours and hundreds of supportive comments in response to his act of courage.

Uber in Córdoba: legality suspended due to union pressure

In Córdoba, Uber and similar apps are still not fully authorized to operate. The platforms continue to be sanctioned through traffic operations. The Municipality imposes multimillion-dollar fines and seizures despite the growing demand for the service.

The conflict is due to the strong resistance from the taxi and remis unions. These groups maintain strong ties with local political structures. The measures against Uber are more a response to corporate pressure than to principles of legality.

Years after their arrival, the platforms remain trapped in a legal limbo. Users and drivers demand the freedom to choose and work. Córdoba's political leadership still fails to provide clear answers or substantive solutions.