Uber hit with a nearly $1 billion fine for automatically deactivating drivers in Europe
Dutch data regulator Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens has fined Uber €824.9 million (£/US$ equivalent reported as about $966 million) for allegedly automatically deactivating European drivers’ accounts without human review between 2018 and 2022. The regulator said this may have unlawfully deprived drivers of income under GDPR rules governing significant automated decisions.
The case began after 171 French drivers complained through a human rights organisation, with the Dutch authority taking responsibility because Uber’s European headquarters are in the Netherlands. The fine equals the stated maximum of four per cent of Uber’s global annual turnover and exceeds the company’s previous €290 million Dutch GDPR penalty in 2024; Uber has appealed.
- Dutch regulator fined Uber €824.9 million over automated driver deactivations.
- The case concerns alleged GDPR breaches between 2018 and 2022.
- Uber has appealed the record penalty.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of the fine argue that losing access to an Uber account can immediately remove a driver’s livelihood, so decisions of that gravity should not be left solely to opaque automated systems. They contend that GDPR safeguards require meaningful human oversight and a real opportunity to challenge errors, particularly where algorithms may misinterpret fraud, safety or performance signals. A substantial penalty is seen as proportionate to the scale and duration alleged, and as necessary to ensure large platforms treat workers’ data rights as enforceable protections rather than a cost of doing business.
The case against
Critics argue that Uber needs automated tools to respond rapidly and consistently to suspected fraud, safety risks and rule breaches across a large cross-border service, with manual review of every initial action potentially leaving passengers and compliant drivers exposed. They may also contend that the regulator should distinguish between a temporary automated suspension, subsequent appeal procedures and a final employment-style dismissal, rather than treating all account deactivations alike. Given the legal uncertainty around platform work and automated decision-making, they argue that a maximum-scale fine approaching €1 billion could be disproportionate if Uber provided review or appeal routes and acted in good faith to protect the service.