French Court Convicts Uber of Violating Transport, Privacy Laws. Courts also slaps fines on two of U.S. company’s French executives .

The Wall Street Journal reports:

A French court added a criminal conviction to a list of world-wide regulatory setbacks for Uber Technologies Inc. that are compelling the car-hailing company to adjust its sharp-elbowed business approach as it works to sustain its growth.

On Thursday, a Paris court convicted Uber and two of its executives in France— Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty and Thibaud Simphal—of violating transportation and privacy laws, fining them a total of about €964,000 ($1.1 million). The outcome in Paris illustrates the degree to which the company is under pressure to adapt to a broad array of regulatory threats.

Uber has defied regulators and flouted local laws in five continents, but it has still managed to spread quickly into over 400 cities by sometimes making concessions when pressured by local governments. It has suspended its low-cost UberPop in places across Europe including France, assented to a temporary freeze on surge pricing in New Delhi, and agreed in California to obtain permits for airport pickups and nix “the safest ride” slogan from marketing promotions.

The struggle against the taxi cartel.