Uber was stripped of its license to carry paying passengers in London on Monday for the second time in just over two years, pending an appeal, over a ¡°pattern of failures¡± on safety and security.

Unauthorized drivers were able to upload their photos to others¡¯ accounts so that, on at least 14,000 trips, a driver other than the advertised one picked up passengers, the regulator Transport for London (TfL) said.

The ride-hailing firm immediately said it would appeal. The process is likely to include court action and could drag on for months, allowing Uber¡¯s roughly 45,000 drivers in London, one of its most important markets, to keep taking rides despite its license expiring on Monday.