CrowdStrike's $10 Uber Eats compensation after major global outage draws criticism

Uber Eats is a food delivery platform owned by Uber Technologies.

Last week's critical flaw in CrowdStrike’s cybersecurity software triggered widespread disruption, leaving companies like Delta Airlines grappling to restore normal operations. In a surprising move, CrowdStrike’s token of appreciation for its beleaguered third-party vendors was a $10 Uber Eats voucher, a gesture that has sparked widespread criticism and disbelief.

Reports of these "gifts" surfaced on Wednesday afternoon, generating a range of reactions. While some saw it as a fitting end to a challenging week, others expressed frustration over the inadequacy of the gesture.

Many partners, who serve as the main point of contact for their clients, are under intense pressure as businesses struggle to regain smooth operations.

Social media users drew comparisons to office pizza parties, which are often seen as insufficient gestures of appreciation. "Can $10 on Uber Eats even get you anything?" one user quipped. Indeed, a search revealed that after taxes and fees, the voucher barely covers minimal items like a can of Coke or a Hershey’s chocolate bar, excluding any tip.

Amidst the backlash, many also expressed skepticism about the legitimacy of the vouchers, especially when some codes stopped working. A CrowdStrike spokesperson confirmed the emails were genuine but noted that "Uber flagged it as fraud because of high usage rates," indicating multiple attempts to use the same voucher.

While partners grappled with this crisis, customers also faced significant losses. According to Parametrix, a cloud monitoring and insurance firm, the outage may have cost Fortune 500 companies up to $5.4 billion in revenues and gross profits.

Despite the financial impact, CrowdStrike has not yet addressed any compensation plans for its customers.

Experts believe demands for financial remediation and potential lawsuits are inevitable.