Uber has once again violated the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), receiving a fine of $966 million. The violation is linked to the automatic deactivation of drivers in Europe.
According to the Dutch Data Protection Authority, Uber deprived its drivers of income through fully automated decision-making, which contradicts GDPR requirements.
The investigation began after 171 French drivers filed a complaint with a local human rights organization. This led to the case being transferred to the Dutch Data Protection Authority, as Uber's headquarters are in the Netherlands.
The Dutch authority accused Uber of automatically blocking drivers' accounts between 2018 and 2022 without human involvement, demanding a fine approaching one billion dollars.
Monique Verdier, deputy chair of the Dutch authority, commented on the situation with the complaining drivers: 'At one point, they no longer received income through Uber. A computer should not make decisions on its own that have serious consequences for you.'
This is not the first time the authority has fined Uber. Previously, the company was fined $701,000 in 2018, as well as $11.6 million in 2023 and another $339 million in 2024.