Kathmandu— Ride-hailing company Uber has been fined €825 million ($964 million) by the Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) for violating the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The AP found that between 2018 and 2022, Uber used fully automated systems to suspend drivers suspected of fraud or those receiving low customer ratings without sufficient human oversight, effectively cutting off their income. The investigation was launched following a complaint from French advocacy group LDH, with the Dutch regulator handling the case due to Uber’s European headquarters being located in the Netherlands.

GDPR Violation Confirmed

The AP determined that Uber's practices constituted serious infringements of EU privacy rules. According to AP vice president Monique Verdier, drivers were summarily suspended and had their incomes cut off, which is prohibited under GDPR regulations.

Verdier emphasized the importance of human review in consequential decisions, stating, “A computer is not allowed to make independent decisions that have major consequences for you. A human should have reviewed this first.”

Fine Calculation and Uber’s Response

The €825 million penalty represents approximately 1.85% of Uber's global revenue of €44.5 billion ($52 billion) in 2025, calculated under guidelines allowing for penalties up to 4% of worldwide annual turnover.

Uber has denied permanently deactivating driver accounts without human intervention and stated its intention to appeal the decision.

US-EU Tech Regulation Tensions

The fine comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Brussels regarding substantial fines levied against American tech companies. US President Donald Trump recently threatened tariffs in response to what he perceives as unfair treatment of US firms.

In July, Trump announced a trade investigation following a €1 billion fine imposed on Google for violating competition rules, warning that it could result in new tariffs on EU imports.

Uber intends to appeal the decision, setting the stage for further legal proceedings and potentially escalating the debate over automated decision-making and data privacy.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.