Uber faces criminal investigation after evading the law with 'Greyball' tool

US justice department inquiry comes after Uber acknowledged using software to identify and circumvent clampdowns by government officials

The US Department of Justice has begun a criminal investigation into Uber's use of a software tool that helped its drivers evade local transportation regulators, two sources familiar with the situation said.

Uber has acknowledged the software, known as "Greyball", helped it identify and circumvent government officials who were trying to clamp down on Uber in areas where its service had not yet been approved, such as Portland, Oregon.