Colombia's Transport Ministry has withdrawn Bill 347 of 2026 aimed at toughening sanctions on mobility platforms like Uber and Didi. The move seeks to clarify the decree's scope and include discussions with the transport sector. Digital platforms have warned of potential bans and persecutions.
The Colombian Ministry of Transport announced the withdrawal of the bill on the sanctioning regime for mobility platforms to make adjustments to its wording. This decision aims to provide greater clarity on the decree's scope and incorporate discussions with the transport sector, as stated by Luis Gabriel Serna, head of the Legal Office of the Superintendencia de Transporte.
Serna explained that the adjustments address 'the multiple and synchronous erroneous interpretations of some articles of the bill'. The proposal, known as Bill 347 of 2026, sought to increase oversight of transport services via apps but immediately raised alarms from companies like Uber and Didi.
Uber argued that the bill 'confuses innovation with threat' and shifts a debate that should be resolved through dialogue and a forward-looking vision for the country's economy and mobility. 'Criminalizing the use of an app does not protect anyone; it only endangers the integrity and safety of millions of users, taxi drivers, and renters of motorcycles and private vehicles, as well as the stability and peace of mind of their families', they stated.
'Colombia is at a moment of definitions. The path should not be to punish what works, but to trust citizens and their ability to choose how to generate income and how to move', Uber indicated.
Alianza In, representing digital platforms, described the bill as 'one of the most serious setbacks' in innovation and mobility, threatening the digital ecosystem and the incomes of hundreds of thousands of families. José Daniel López, executive president of Alianza In Colombia, said: 'This is a project whose practical consequence is the absolute prohibition of mobility platforms and the freedoms and rights they represent. It is a scheme of persecution against drivers, users, and companies'.
Criticized sanctions include vehicle immobilization for up to 120 days and disproportionate fines, such as 4.7 million pesos per trip or up to 2.179 million when no specific penalty is set. The Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC) noted it does not share the bill's design, though it could cause confusions.
This withdrawal opens room for revisions to balance regulation and innovation in the transport sector.