Rome, 21 Aug. (LaPresse) – Uber faces a fine of 825 million euros from the Dutch data protection authority for using automated systems to deactivate drivers’ accounts. This was reported by the Financial Times, which highlighted that the fine is the second-highest permitted under the European General Data Protection Regulation, which allows regulatory authorities to fine companies that mishandle the personal data of European citizens. Uber, the newspaper reports, has described the fine as “disproportionate” and announced that it will appeal, arguing that the Dutch regulators examined “historical policies that were discontinued years ago”. The FT notes that the fine has not yet been officially announced, but was confirmed on Friday by the Dutch Data Protection Authority. The Dutch regulator conducted the investigation as Uber’s European headquarters are based in Amsterdam. In the document, seen by the newspaper, the Dutch regulator stated that Uber “has infringed drivers’ rights, in particular the right not to be subject to automated decision-making processes that have legal or otherwise significant consequences for drivers. Uber has also breached the right to be fully informed about such automated decision-making processes’. The penalty follows a fine of 290 million euros imposed on Uber two years ago by the Netherlands for transferring the personal data of European taxi drivers to the United States and for failing to adequately protect that data.
Uber: fined 825 million by the Dutch data protection authority
Rome, 21 Aug. (LaPresse) – Uber faces a fine of 825 million euros from the Dutch data protection authority for using automated systems to deactivate drivers’ accounts. This was reported by the Financial Times, which highlighted that the fine is the second-highest permitted under the European General Data Protection Regulation, which allows regulatory authorities to fine companies that mishandle the personal data of European citizens. Uber, the newspaper reports, has described the fine as “disproportionate” and announced that it will appeal, arguing that the Dutch regulators examined “historical policies that were discontinued years ago”. The FT notes that the fine has not yet been officially announced, but was confirmed on Friday by the Dutch Data Protection Authority. The Dutch regulator conducted the investigation as Uber’s European headquarters are based in Amsterdam. In the document, seen by the newspaper, the Dutch regulator stated that Uber “has infringed drivers’ rights, in particular the right not to be subject to automated decision-making processes that have legal or otherwise significant consequences for drivers. Uber has also breached the right to be fully informed about such automated decision-making processes’. The penalty follows a fine of 290 million euros imposed on Uber two years ago by the Netherlands for transferring the personal data of European taxi drivers to the United States and for failing to adequately protect that data.