€825M Uber Fine Targets Algorithmic Driver Account Bans

The Dutch Data Protection Authority fined Uber 825 million euros ($966 million) on August 17 for violating European privacy regulations regarding the automated suspension of driver accounts. The penalty, the second-largest issued under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), stems from findings that the company utilized algorithmic systems to deactivate drivers without sufficient human oversight or transparency between 2018 and 2022.

The regulatory action follows a complaint originating in France, which was adjudicated in the Netherlands where Uber maintains its European headquarters. The Dutch authority determined that the company’s reliance on automated decision-making for employment-related actions constituted a serious infringement of GDPR, which mandates meaningful human review for processes that significantly impact an individual's livelihood. The fine was calculated based on a percentage of the company's annual turnover.

Uber has formally announced its intent to appeal the decision, characterizing the penalty as disproportionate. The company maintains that its internal policies include human review mechanisms and dispute resolution processes for affected drivers. This ruling adds to a growing list of multi-billion euro penalties imposed by European regulators on major U.S. technology firms, a trend that remains a significant point of friction in transatlantic economic relations.