The Dutch data protection authority has fined Uber €825m ($966m) for using automated systems to deactivate driver accounts without adequately informing them, in what would be the second-largest penalty issued under Europe's GDPR.
Key facts
- Uber was fined €825m ($966m) by the Dutch data protection authority.
- The decision was dated 17 August 2026.
- The fine relates to deactivating driver accounts through automated systems without adequately informing them.
- It would be the second-largest penalty issued under Europe's GDPR.
The Dutch data protection authority has fined Uber €825m ($966m) over the way the company deactivated driver accounts, according to a decision dated 17 August. The regulator found that Uber deactivated driver accounts through automated systems without adequately informing the affected drivers.
The penalty would be the second-largest issued yet under Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), according to the Guardian. The size of the fine reflects the scale of enforcement that European regulators have increasingly brought against large technology companies.
At the heart of the case is the use of automated systems to suspend or deactivate drivers. The regulator concluded that Uber did not adequately inform drivers about how these automated decisions were being made, an issue that falls under GDPR rules governing transparency and automated processing.
The action against Uber fits a wider pattern in which European regulators have imposed billions in penalties on US technology companies, according to the Guardian. Those penalties have stemmed from privacy, competition and digital market rules across the continent.
The Guardian reported the decision as part of coverage of Europe’s continuing scrutiny of major technology firms. The details available so far focus on the amount of the fine, its date, and the finding that drivers were not adequately informed about the automated deactivations.
Why it matters
The fine underscores how European privacy rules increasingly govern the automated decisions that shape gig workers' livelihoods. For drivers, it highlights the requirement that companies explain how automated systems affect their accounts, and for tech firms it signals the significant financial risk of falling short of GDPR transparency standards.
Frequently asked questions
How much was Uber fined?
Uber was fined €825m ($966m) by the Dutch data protection authority, according to a decision dated 17 August.
Why was Uber fined?
The regulator found that Uber deactivated driver accounts through automated systems without adequately informing the affected drivers.
How significant is this penalty?
According to the Guardian, it would be the second-largest penalty issued yet under Europe's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).