The Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens, or AP) has hit Uber with an €824.9 million ($966 million) fine for violating the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The regulatory watchdog concluded that the ride-hailing company systematically deactivated driver accounts between 2018 and 2022 using fully automated systems without human intervention, illegally stripping drivers of their earnings.
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Under GDPR framework rules, individuals are protected against fully automated decisions that carry legal or similarly significant consequences. The AP’s investigation originated from complaints filed by 171 French drivers to a local human rights organization, which were subsequently transferred to the Dutch authority because Uber’s European headquarters are located in the Netherlands. Highlighting the severity of the violation, AP Deputy Chair Monique Verdier stated that automated computer algorithms should not unilaterally make decisions that abruptly cut off an individual’s primary source of income.
The AP noted that the €824.9 million fine was calculated at the statutory maximum allowed under EU law, derived from 4% of Uber’s worldwide annual turnover. The penalty represents the largest enforcement action taken against Uber to date and follows three prior fines issued by the Dutch authority:
See also
- 2018: €600,000 ($701,000) fine for data breach notification delays.
- 2023: €10 million ($11.6 million) penalty concerning privacy terms transparency.
- 2024: €290 million ($339 million) sanction for improperly transferring European drivers’ personal data to the United States.
Uber has officially appealed the ruling, strongly disputing both the findings and the size of the financial penalty. An Uber spokesperson called the fine disproportionate, arguing that the regulator examined historical operational policies that were retired years ago. The company maintained that its current driver management systems incorporate mandatory human reviews, procedural safeguards, and formal dispute channels for drivers seeking to challenge account suspensions.
