The Dutch Data Protection Authority fined Uber Euro 825 million (USD 966 million). Uber is alleged to have used automated systems to suspend driver accounts without adequate information or human involvement, according to a decision reviewed by Reuters.
The penalty is the second-largest issued under the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It follows a Euro 1.2 billion fine imposed on Meta by Ireland in 2023 over the transfer of Facebook users’ data to the US. Uber rejected the decision and said it will appeal. The company also disputed the size of the penalty and some of the regulator’s findings.
The case centers on Uber’s system for suspending or deactivating drivers suspected of violating its rules. The Dutch authority said some drivers lost access to the platform without sufficient warning or meaningful human review. The investigation covered incidents between 2018 and 2022. It began with a complaint from France and was handled in the Netherlands, where Uber has its European headquarters.
Uber said most suspensions were temporary. It also said permanent deactivations were not made automatically and that drivers had opportunities to challenge suspension decisions. The regulator reached a different conclusion in some cases. It said drivers with low customer ratings had been permanently deactivated through computer-based decisions. Uber disputes that finding.
The case highlights a key part of European privacy law. GDPR rules restrict decisions made solely by automated systems when they can have a key effect on an individual. The Dutch regulator said decisions that can cut off a driver's income should involve meaningful human oversight. Deputy chair Monique Verdier said automated systems should not independently make decisions with such serious consequences.
The penalty also adds to Uber’s regulatory pressure in Europe. Swiss digital-rights group PersonalData.io, which supported drivers in gathering information about the decisions, welcomed the ruling. Paul-Olivier Dehaye, founder of PersonalData.io, said a class action against Uber is being prepared to seek compensation for affected drivers. The group helped French drivers pursue information about how Uber’s systems assessed their accounts. The ruling could have wider implications for gig-economy platforms that rely on automated systems to manage workers.
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