Labor/Employment,
Constitutional Law,
Administrative/Regulatory,
9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Apr. 1, 2026
9th Circuit rejects Uber and Instacart's free speech challenge to worker deactivation law
The court upheld Seattle's App-Based Worker Deactivation Rights Ordinance, rejecting Uber and Instacart's constitutional challenges and confirming the law regulates conduct, not speech.
Roland M. Juarez
Partner
Hunton, Andrews & Kurth LLP
Phone: (213) 532-2145
Email: rjuarez@huntonak.com
The 9th Circuit has upheld Seattle's App-Based Worker Deactivation Rights Ordinance, rejecting constitutional challenges brought by Uber and Instacart. The court confirmed that the ordinance--which bars unjustified and arbitrary deactivations of app-based workers--regulates conduct, not speech, and withstands constitutional scrutiny even as commercial speech.
Background: Seattle's App-Based Worker Deactivation Rights Ordinance
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