Bolt

Bolt Operations OU petitioned Kenya's High Court challenging the 2022 Transport Network Companies regulations. On September 1, 2026, Justice Florence Muigai Aburili ruled the 18% commission-cap and anti-circumvention provisions unconstitutional and invalid for lack of statutory price-setting authority and a regulatory impact assessment, suspending the declaration for 12 months while government redraws the rules. The same judgment struck down a separate rule requiring platforms to retain three years of detailed passenger and driver data and surrender it to the National Transport and Safety Authority on demand, finding it breached the constitutional right to privacy.

Poland's consumer protection authority UOKiK filed formal greenwashing charges against Bolt (alongside Tchibo and Zara) on January 21, 2026, alleging its 'Project Zero' and 'zero-emission vehicles' marketing misleads consumers into believing rides are broadly zero-emission when the vast majority of its fleet still uses internal combustion engines and only the driving stage, not the vehicle lifecycle, is emission-free. UOKiK also challenged Bolt's '100% renewable energy' claims for offices, warehouses and charging stations, which rely largely on Energy Attribute Certificates offsetting consumption rather than direct renewable purchases, without clearly disclosing scope. Bolt faces potential fines of up to 10% of turnover per contested practice.

Between September 2025 and March 2026, Bolt drivers in Tartu, Ida-Viru County, and Saaremaa staged strikes and 'phantom strike' work stoppages after Bolt removed drivers' ability to set their own tariff ranges (replacing it with fixed algorithmic pricing that some drivers said halved their income) and raised commission from 20% to 25% in major cities. Nearly 100 drivers struck in Tartu in September 2025; 30-40 drivers in Ida-Viru County staged a phantom strike in January 2026 rejecting over 100 rides each; and Saaremaa drivers suspended service for 24 hours in March 2026, with some defecting to a rival platform. Drivers also described fear of retaliation, including account blocks, for organizing.

UK Employment Tribunal ruled in November 2024 that Bolt's drivers qualify as 'workers' rather than self-employed contractors, entitling them to minimum wage protections. The tribunal found drivers 'did work for Bolt' and rejected Bolt's 'bogus documentation designed to set up and protect the agency-based construct.' Lawyers estimate compensation could exceed £200 million for 15,000 claimants.

Internal documents obtained by Corporate Europe Observatory October 2023 showed Bolt's EU lobbyist Aurélien Pozzana drafted letter as if written by Estonian government asking Spanish EU Presidency to stick to weaker worker protections. Email to Estonian Deputy General showed meetings with Minister of Economy and Minister of Finance 'went well' and shared draft letter hoping 'Estonian Government could sign and encourage other allied Member States.' Letter written as if drafted by Estonian government, not by Bolt. Reporting caused public outcry in Estonia. Bolt has almost 50 employees working on regulations in lobbying capacity.

Bolt drafted a letter in Estonia's name to push back against the EU Platform Work Directive, sent via Sandra Särav, a ministry official who failed to disclose owning €30,000+ in Bolt stock options. The lobbying helped mobilize Estonia and other countries against worker protections. Transparency International Estonia said Bolt 'crosses a line' by representing the government's position.