Dutch regulator fines Uber €825 million over driver account shutdowns
Why it matters: The ruling found Uber relied on automated decisions affecting drivers’ livelihoods, a potential test of EU GDPR limits.
Dutch privacy regulator AP fined Uber 825 million euros for deactivating driver accounts without adequately informing drivers or ensuring proper human review, in a case tied to its European operations in Amsterdam. The watchdog said Uber’s systems automatically suspended accounts linked to suspected fraud or low customer ratings, and repeated low ratings could lead to permanent deactivation. The investigation followed complaints from 171 French drivers and examined practices between 2018 and 2022, though one report said the incidents at issue ran from 2020 to 2022. Uber called the penalty disproportionate and said it will appeal. AP said the case breached EU GDPR rules restricting decisions based solely on automated processing when they significantly affect individuals.