Uber fined 825 million in the Netherlands for automatically deactivating drivers’ accounts
This is reported by the Financial Times, citing a document from the Dutch Data Protection Authority that has not yet been made public.
Uber is set to face a fine of 825 million in the Netherlands for using automated systems to deactivate the accounts of certain drivers. This is according to the Financial Times, which cites a document from the Dutch Data Protection Authority that has not yet been made public.
Uber is alleged to have breached, in particular, drivers’ right not to be subject to fully automated decisions and to receive comprehensive information on how the systems operate. The Dutch authority confirmed the decision to the FT.
The deactivation of Uber accounts prevented the drivers concerned from accepting new journeys and therefore from continuing to earn money through the platform.
The Dutch Data Protection Authority stated that, precisely because of the direct impact on drivers’ work, these decisions could not have been entrusted to automated systems without adequate safeguards, clear information and the possibility of a human review.
The fine, which, as mentioned, has not yet been formally announced, would be the second-highest ever imposed under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), after the €1.2 billion fine imposed on Meta in 2023.
