Companies Built on Sharing Balk When It Comes to Regulators

In the newfangled sharing economy, questions about safety, taxes and regulation have tended to be an afterthought. That has helped propel companies like Uber, Airbnb and Lyft into the stratosphere. But regulators as well as some elected officials across the country are increasingly questioning the presumptions and tactics of these start-ups, especially the notion that laws do not apply to them. The companies are fighting back by rallying their impassioned and growing customer base. And they are stocking up on lawyers and lobbyists.