This is the property of the Daily Journal Corporation and fully protected by copyright. It is made available only to Daily Journal subscribers for personal or collaborative purposes and may not be distributed, reproduced, modified, stored or transferred without written permission. Please click "Reprint" to order presentation-ready copies to distribute to clients or use in commercial marketing materials or for permission to post on a website. and copyright (showing year of publication) at the bottom.
Subscribe to the Daily Journal for access to Daily Appellate Reports, Verdicts, Judicial Profiles and more...

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

See more...

Andrea Oguntula

Associate
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

See more...

9th Circuit rejects Uber and Instacart's free speech challenge to worker deactivation law
Shutterstock

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

Or access this article for $45
(Purchase provides 7-day access to this article. Printing, posting or downloading is not allowed.)

Already a subscriber?

Enewsletter Sign-up