Uber Fined €825 Million for Automated Driver Suspensions
The Dutch data protection authority has levied a fine of €825 million (approximately $966 million) on Uber for deactivating driver accounts through automated systems without proper notification to the drivers, as per General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) guidelines. This fine stands as only Meta’s €1.2 billion penalty as the largest under GDPR. Uber has stated its intention to appeal.
The Decision and Its Rationale
The regulator, known as the AP, concluded that Uber violated drivers’ rights by relying solely on automated decision-making systems for account suspensions, which have significant consequences. Specifically, the AP cited two instances: one where drivers were suspended for suspected unnecessary detours to inflate fares, and another for accepting trips they didn’t intend to complete.
Uber argued that these suspensions were usually temporary and that permanent deactivations required human review. However, the AP countered that Uber’s software did permanently deactivate accounts of drivers with low customer ratings, which the company denied.
Uber’s Response
In response to the fine, a spokesperson for Uber stated, "We strongly disagree with this decision and disproportionate fine… [and] take drivers’ rights seriously…" They further added that current policies include human review and contest mechanisms for suspensions. Uber also emphasized that it no longer permanently deactivates accounts solely through automated systems.
The Case’s Origins
The case originated from a complaint by French drivers who were suspended on suspicion of fraud. As Uber’s European headquarters are in Amsterdam, the Dutch data protection authority took the lead on the case.
This is not the first time the AP has fined Uber; it has issued four penalties against the company to date, with each fine increasing in size.