1 week ago
Netherlands Fines Uber €825 Million Over Automated Driver Suspensions
The Netherlands fined Uber €825 million.
Officials said Uber’s computer systems sometimes suspended or deactivated drivers without enough warning or human review.
They said this could suddenly take away a driver’s income.
European privacy rules say computers should not make important decisions about people by themselves.
The rules also give people a chance to understand and challenge such decisions.
Uber says it has human reviews and ways for drivers to contest suspensions.
Uber also says it did not use computers to make permanent deactivation decisions.
The company disagrees with the fine and plans to appeal.
The case began with a complaint in France and was handled in the Netherlands because Uber’s European headquarters are there.
The Dutch data protection authority fined Uber €825 million ($960 million; about ₹9,226 crore) over driver account deactivations.
The regulator said some drivers were suspended or deactivated without sufficient warning, human involvement, or an opportunity to challenge decisions.
Uber said its policies include human reviews and appeal opportunities, and denied using automation for permanent deactivations.
The case concerns incidents reported as occurring between 2018 and 2022 in one account and between 2020 and 2022 in another.
Uber called the fine disproportionate, strongly disagreed with the ruling, and said it would appeal.
- Who
- The Dutch data protection authority and Uber; deputy chair Monique Verdier was quoted commenting on the ruling.
- What
- The Netherlands fined Uber €825 million over alleged automated driver account suspensions and deactivations without adequate warning or human review.
- Where
- The case began with a complaint filed in France and was handled in the Netherlands, where Uber’s European headquarters are located.
- When
- The judgment was confirmed on Friday after being agreed on Monday; the articles describe the relevant incidents as occurring between 2018 and 2022 or, in one account, between 2020 and 2022.
- Why
- The regulator said Uber’s practices infringed European data-protection rules governing significant decisions made through automated processing.
Dutch Data Protection Authority
Uber
Use of automated decisions
Dutch Data Protection Authority
The regulator said Uber committed serious infringements by deactivating some drivers without warning or human involvement, including cases involving low customer ratings.
Uber
Uber said its systems generally caused short-lived suspensions and maintained that permanent deactivations were not made automatically; it said its policies include human reviews and opportunities to challenge suspensions.
Impact on drivers
Dutch Data Protection Authority
The authority said drivers could suddenly lose their income and that a computer should not independently make decisions with such major consequences.
Uber
Uber argued that only a limited number of drivers were affected, citing 126 drivers deactivated across Europe in 2021 because of low customer ratings.
Penalty
Dutch Data Protection Authority
The Dutch regulator imposed the €825 million fine and said it was calculated using a proportion of Uber’s 2025 annual turnover.
Uber
Uber called the penalty disproportionate, strongly rejected the decision, and said it would appeal.
Key facts
- Fine
- €825 million, approximately $960 million or ₹9,226 crore
- Regulator
- The Dutch data protection authority
- Company
- Uber
- Relevant period
- Reported as 2018–2022 in one article and 2020–2022 in another
- Regulatory rule
- Significant decisions cannot be based solely on automated processing and must include meaningful human oversight
- Uber’s position
- The company strongly disagrees, calls the fine disproportionate, and plans to appeal
- Drivers cited by Uber
- Uber said 126 drivers across Europe were deactivated in 2021 because of low customer ratings
- Fine calculation
- The Dutch regulator said the amount was based on a proportion of Uber’s 2025 annual turnover
Quotes
Monique Verdier
Deputy chair of the Dutch data protection regulator
“Uber has committed serious infringements,”
livemint.com
Dutch data protection regulator
The Dutch authority investigating Uber’s driver-account suspensions
“From one moment to the next they no longer had any income ... A computer should not make decisions on its own that have (such) major consequences,”
livemint.com
Uber spokesperson
Representative of Uber responding to the regulator’s penalty
“We strongly disagree with this decision and disproportionate fine,”
livemint.com
Sources
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