Chicago Uber Driver Reactivated After Erroneous Deactivation

Aiesha Knowles' account was wrongly flagged as fraudulent, leading to lost income until the I-Team intervened.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:56am

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A minimalist studio still life featuring a smartphone, car keys, and a temporary driver's license on a clean white background, conceptually representing the challenges faced by rideshare drivers when their accounts are wrongly deactivated.A rideshare driver's temporary license and other personal items sit idle, highlighting the destabilizing impact of erroneous platform deactivations.Chicago Today

A Chicago Uber driver named Aiesha Knowles reached out to ABC7's I-Team after she was unjustly deactivated from the platform due to her temporary driver's license being incorrectly labeled as fraudulent. The deactivation caused Knowles to lose income, but after the I-Team investigated, Uber reactivated her account and provided compensation for the time she was unable to drive.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges rideshare drivers can face with platform deactivations, which advocates say are becoming more common, especially when it comes to issues with documentation. The data shows deactivations for alleged fraudulent information or documents have been rising in Chicago, though it's unclear how many are valid versus erroneous.

The details

Knowles, a single mother, relies on her Uber driving income. When her account was deactivated due to her temporary license being flagged as fraudulent, she was unable to earn money for months. Uber initially told her the issue was detected by their AI system, but a human reviewer ultimately made the mistake. After the I-Team's inquiry, Uber reactivated Knowles' account and provided compensation for her lost earnings.

  • In 2024, deactivations for alleged fraudulent information or documents accounted for just under 20% of total deactivations in Chicago.
  • In 2025, the percentage rose to almost 32%.
  • So far in 2026, the percentage has exceeded 41%.

The players

Aiesha Knowles

A Chicago rideshare driver who was unjustly deactivated from the Uber platform due to her temporary driver's license being incorrectly flagged as fraudulent.

Uber

The rideshare company that deactivated Knowles' account, initially citing an AI system, before a human reviewer determined the document was mistakenly flagged as fraudulent.

Chicago Gig Alliance

An advocacy group representing thousands of rideshare drivers and gig workers in Chicago, which says it has heard from several drivers who were wrongly deactivated, often due to issues with documentation.

Lori Simmons

A representative of the Chicago Gig Alliance who says driver deactivations are "extremely destabilizing" for those who rely on the income.

ABC7 Chicago I-Team

The investigative news team that looked into Knowles' case and prompted Uber to reactivate her account and provide compensation.

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What they’re saying

“I love the flexibility because I'm a single mother. It allows me to earn money while my child is at school.”

— Aiesha Knowles

“The deactivations are extremely destabilizing. I mean we're talking about people that often are working to get their money for rent that they need tomorrow, or today even.”

— Lori Simmons, Representative, Chicago Gig Alliance

“If it was not for the I-Team, I would be on the verge of losing everything.”

— Aiesha Knowles

What’s next

Uber says it is reviewing what went wrong in Knowles' case and will make appropriate changes to help prevent similar erroneous deactivations in the future.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing issue of rideshare driver deactivations, often due to documentation problems, and the significant impact it can have on those who rely on the income. It underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability from platforms when it comes to deactivation decisions.