Netherlands Imposes Record €825 Million Fine on Uber
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The Dutch data protection authority, Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (AP), has imposed a fine of €824.99 million on Uber. The ride-hailing company is accused of automatically suspending driver accounts between 2018 and 2022 without ensuring adequate human review. Uber plans to appeal the decision.
Automated Suspensions With Serious Consequences
According to the AP, the penalty concerns automated decisions made in cases of suspected fraud and poor customer ratings. If the software identified irregularities or drivers’ ratings fell below a certain level over time, their accounts were suspended temporarily or permanently. For those affected, this meant an immediate loss of their ability to earn income through Uber.
The authority considers this practice a violation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The regulation prohibits fully automated decision-making where it has significant consequences for individuals, such as their employment or income. In such cases, companies must provide meaningful human review and clearly inform those affected about the automated processing.
Lack of Human Review
“Uber has committed serious infringements,” said AP deputy chair Monique Verdier. Drivers had been deactivated “without pardon” and could suddenly no longer earn income through the platform. “A computer should not make decisions on its own that have such serious consequences for people.”
The authority also alleges that Uber did not sufficiently inform drivers about the automated decision-making systems it used. Uber has since stopped the practices at issue.
Complaints From France Triggered the Investigation
The investigation began with complaints from 171 French drivers. They contacted the human rights organization Ligue des droits de l’Homme, which then filed a complaint with the French data protection authority, the CNIL.
Because Uber’s European headquarters are located in the Netherlands, the AP handled the case under the GDPR’s one-stop-shop mechanism. The Dutch authority said it worked closely with the CNIL and other European supervisory authorities.
One of the Largest GDPR Fines
At nearly €825 million, the penalty against Uber is the second-largest GDPR fine imposed to date. Only Meta’s €1.2 billion fine in 2023, over unlawful transfers of Facebook users’ data to the United States, was larger. Under the GDPR, fines can reach up to four percent of a company’s worldwide annual turnover. Uber reported global revenue of around €44.5 billion in 2025.
The Ten Largest GDPR Fines
| Rank | Company | Fine | Authority / year | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meta Platforms Ireland | €1.2bn | Ireland, 2023 | Unlawful transfer of Facebook users’ data to the United States |
| 2 | Uber | €824.99m | Netherlands, 2026 | Fully automated driver-account deactivations and insufficient information |
| 3 | TikTok Technology | €530m | Ireland, 2025 | Unlawful processing and transfer of personal data |
| 4 | Meta Platforms | €405m | Ireland, 2022 | Data protection violations involving underage Instagram users |
| 5 | Meta Platforms Ireland | €390m | Ireland, 2023 | Insufficient legal basis for personalised advertising |
| 6 | TikTok | €345m | Ireland, 2023 | Data protection violations involving underage users |
| 7 | €310m | Ireland, 2024 | Lack of legal basis for processing data for advertising purposes | |
| 8 | Uber | €290m | Netherlands, 2024 | Insufficient safeguards for transferring driver data to the United States |
| 9 | Meta Platforms Ireland | €265m | Ireland, 2022 | Insufficient technical and organisational safeguards |
| 10 | Meta Platforms Ireland | €251m | Ireland, 2024 | Data protection breach resulting from a security incident |
As of 24 August 2026. The ranking reflects published decisions; several fines are or were subject to appeals. Uber is appealing its fine.
Uber Announces Appeal
Uber rejects the allegations. A company spokesperson described both the decision and the size of the fine as disproportionate. Uber said it takes drivers’ rights seriously and that its procedures include human reviews as well as opportunities for drivers to appeal suspensions.
This is already the fourth fine imposed on Uber by the Dutch data protection authority. In 2018, Uber was fined €600,000, followed by a €10 million penalty in 2023 and a €290 million fine in 2024. Uber is also challenging the two most recent decisions.
