Europe's highest court decided Wednesday that Uber should be regulated like a transportation service — not a tech company.
The European Court of Justice wrote in a press release: "The service provided by Uber connecting individuals with non-professional drivers is covered by services in the field of transport. Member States can therefore regulate the conditions for providing that service."
The ruling is a big blow to Uber. The company had argued it should be classified as a digital platform that connects drivers and passengers and, therefore, shouldn't be treated like a traditional taxi company.
But a spokesperson for Uber told the BBC the decision won't affect the way it operates in most European countries.