Dutch regulator fines Uber $966m for automated driver account suspensions
The Netherlands' data protection authority has fined Uber €825m ($966m) for deactivating driver accounts through automated systems without properly informing them. Uber says it will appeal.
The Dutch data protection authority issued a decision on 17 August imposing a €825m (about $966m) fine on Uber, saying the ride-hailing company deactivated driver accounts using automated systems without adequately informing the drivers involved or ensuring human review.
The penalty ranks as the second-largest ever issued under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), trailing only a €1.2bn fine Ireland imposed on Meta in 2023 over the unlawful transfer of European Facebook users' data to the United States. Meta is currently appealing that decision.
Uber said it strongly disagrees with the Dutch ruling and considers the fine disproportionate. A company spokesperson said Uber takes driver rights seriously and that its processes include human reviews as well as avenues for drivers to dispute suspensions. Uber confirmed it will appeal.
Monique Verdier, deputy chair of the Dutch authority, said Uber committed serious infringements by cutting off driver accounts without warning or human involvement, leaving affected drivers suddenly without income. She said a computer should not be allowed to make decisions with such major consequences on its own.
The case concerns incidents across Europe between 2018 and 2022 and originated from a complaint filed in France. The Dutch authority handled the matter because Uber's European headquarters are located in the Netherlands. According to the regulator, Uber's systems temporarily suspended some drivers suspected of fraud, such as those flagged for taking unnecessary detours to inflate fares. The agency also said drivers with low customer ratings were sometimes permanently deactivated by an automated system, a claim Uber disputes, saying it never automated permanent deactivation decisions.
Uber argued the fine is disproportionate given the small number of drivers affected, noting that 126 drivers in Europe were deactivated in 2021 due to low ratings. The fine was calculated as a fraction of Uber's 2025 annual turnover.
PersonalData.IO, a Swiss digital rights group that assisted French Uber drivers in seeking information about the algorithmic decisions and helped trigger the Dutch investigation, welcomed the ruling. Its founder said the group is preparing a class action seeking compensation for affected drivers.
