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Dutch authorities fine Uber nearly $1 billion for using automated software to deactivate driver accounts without human review

The Dutch Data Protection Authority has imposed a fine of 825 million euros ($966 million) on Uber for violating the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation. The company was penalized for using automated software to deactivate driver accounts between 2018 and 2022 without sufficient human intervention or adequate notification to the drivers. Monique Verdier, the deputy chair of the authority, stated that a computer should not make decisions with major consequences, such as a driver's income, without human oversight. Uber has expressed disagreement with the decision and the fine, stating that the company takes drivers' rights seriously and maintains that it has never automated permanent deactivation decisions. The company plans to file an appeal against the disproportionate fine, arguing that only a small number of drivers were affected. This penalty is the second-largest issued under the GDPR so far. Uber has faced multiple fines from the Dutch authority in recent years, including a 2024 fine for improperly transferring personal data to the United States.

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