Flash! Adobe Accused of Discriminating Against D.C. Residents (Updated)
Updated 7:25 p.m. | Multinational computer software company Adobe is being accused of discriminating against District of Columbia residents.
When a D.C. business owner tried to register for “Adobe Day” at a tech conference in Portland, Ore., the person found the District of Columbia excluded from the drop-down menu of states. With no option for the District, it was impossible to input a local address.
The business owner logged his complaint with shadow Sen. Paul Strauss, a Democrat whose top priority is getting the District some recognition from Congress. Strauss took to Twitter to rail against Adobe.
Hey @AdobeTCS! Stop discriminating against #DC residents because of the lack of #DCStatehood! …https://t.co/6pQodYJwzY Let DC Participate!
— Senator Paul Strauss (@SenPaulStrauss) September 3, 2014
The District experienced similar treatment in early August from Push for Pizza, a smartphone app designed to streamline pie orders. After a backlash , the company briefly tried to correct the problem by having D.C. residents input Maryland or Virginia. That solution drew more criticism, so the folks at Push for Pizza updated the app .
“It’s bad enough when a new Pizza app discriminates, but Adobe is a serious company and should know better!” Strauss told CQ Roll Call. He added, “Who do they think they are? The TSA!?!”
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., has been tangoing with the Transportation Safety Administration over the validity of District of Columbia licenses. TSA agents at Arizona and Florida airports caused commotion earlier this year when they failed to recognize the city’s identification cards as legitimate ID.
Adobe’s tech team reached out to CQ Roll Call via Twitter shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday to say the error was brought to their attention “moments before” Strauss’ tweets and said a correction to the event registration page “is in motion.”
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