Dutch Regulator Fines Uber €825 Million Over Automated Driver Suspensions
The Dutch Data Protection Authority issued the second-largest GDPR penalty in history after finding Uber used automated systems to deactivate driver accounts without human oversight.
Regulatory Penalty
The Dutch Data Protection Authority has fined Uber €825 million, approximately $966 million, for violating European data protection laws. The penalty is the second largest ever issued under Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
The fine follows an investigation into complaints that Uber utilized automated software to deactivate driver accounts. According to the regulator, these suspensions—some of which were permanent—were carried out through an automated process without sufficient warning or human review to verify the accuracy of the decisions.
GDPR Violations
The Dutch regulator determined that Uber's actions violated GDPR rules that prohibit fully automated decision-making in cases that significantly affect a person's livelihood. The authority found that the company failed to properly inform drivers of the automated process or provide an adequate opportunity for drivers to challenge the decisions.
Monique Verdier, deputy chair of the Dutch Data Protection Authority, stated that Uber had "committed serious infringements". Verdier further noted that "a computer should not make decisions on its own that have [such] major consequences".
Company Response
Uber has indicated that it plans to appeal the decision issued by the Dutch regulator.
Sources (8)Open
- 1.TechCrunch — Uber faces fine of nearly $1B over automated driver suspensions
- 2.Techcrunch — Uber faces fine of nearly $1B over automated driver suspensions
- 3.Apnews — Uber fined nearly $1 billion by Dutch regulators over automated suspensions of driver accounts
- 4.Cybernews — Uber hit with nearly $1B fine over algorithmic driver suspensions
- 5.Instagram — Instagram
- 6.Com — Dutch data regulator fines Uber nearly $1B over driver ...
- 7.Startupfortune — Dutch Regulator Fines Uber Nearly $1 Billion Over Automated Driver Suspensions - Startup Fortune
- 8.News4jax — Uber fined nearly $1 billion by Dutch regulators over automated suspensions of driver accounts
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