'A computer should not make decisions on its own': Uber fined $1 billion for using automated systems to suspend 171 drivers

Date:
Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:15:00 +0000

Description:
Uber fined 825m ($962m) over using automated systems to ban potentially fraudulent drivers company plans to appeal.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Dutch investigation and French complaint accuse Uber of banning drivers via algorithms 171 drivers affected on the basis of driver behavior and customer feedback Uber says humans were involved in permanent account deactivations The Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) has issued Uber with a hefty 825 million ($962 million) fine over the way it used automated systems to suspend driver accounts within Europe.

Because losing access to Uber can immediately prevent drivers from earning money through the platform, regulators deemed that the case should fall under Article 22 of the EU GDPR, which restricts automated-only decision-making
when it comes to having significant effects on individuals. Ultimately, it means this is now the second-largest GDPR fine ever to have been issued, falling short of Meta's 2023 1.2 billion fine. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Uber hit with 825 million GDPR fine Though the company was finally hit with the fine in 2026, it relates to business practices between 2018 and 2022 when Uber used software to assess driver behavior and customer feedback before automatically restricting suspicious accounts.

Uber's systems reportedly flagged drivers for taking unnecessary detours to inflate customer prices, and accepting journeys without intending to complete them perfectly reasonable reasons to be flagged. You may like EU hits Temu with $232 million fine over sale of illegal products Big Tech slapped with $3.5bn in fines for using your personal data to train AI and 'it could be only the beginning,' warns Surfshark HP hit with massive 1.4 billion rupees fine for running 'cartel' of ink cartridges, toner, PCs in India

But Dutch regulators were more concerned with the fact that decisions were being made entirely by computers and algorithms without human approval, leading drivers to potentially lose their livelihoods. "A computer should not make decisions on its own that have (such) major consequences," regulators said.

Netherlands led the investigation because Uber's main European establishment is based in the country, but the case stems back to an earlier 2020 complaint by French human rights organization La Ligue des Droits de l'Homme (LDH), representing 171 Uber drivers. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter
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Uber argues that fraud-related suspensions were generally short-lived, and that permanent account deactivations were not made without human review, thus it intends to appeal. "We strongly disagree with this decision and disproportionate fine," the company said in a statement (via Reuters ).
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/a-computer-should-not-make-decisions-on-its-own- uber-fined-usd1-billion-for-using-automated-systems-to-suspend-171-drivers


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