Uber is facing a penalty of €825 million, equivalent to about $966 million, from the Dutch Data Protection Authority over the way it handled the suspension of drivers through automated systems.

The fine ranks among the largest penalties issued under Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation and follows an investigation into complaints that drivers were removed from the platform without adequate human involvement.

Dutch authorities said Uber’s automated processes resulted in serious consequences for some drivers without sufficient safeguards.

Deputy chair Monique Verdier argued that decisions with significant effects on people’s livelihoods should not be left entirely to computer systems.

Regulators also said that some drivers were permanently removed without human review, a claim that Uber disputes.

Uber has rejected the regulator’s findings and said most suspensions are temporary.

The company maintains that permanent deactivations are subject to human assessment and that drivers have access to an appeals process.

Uber described the penalty as disproportionate and said it intends to challenge the decision.

The case originated from complaints involving drivers who questioned how the company made account deactivation decisions.

One former driver, Brahim Ben Ali, reportedly gathered testimonies from numerous drivers and pursued the matter through Dutch authorities.

Digital rights organisation PersonalData.io assisted with efforts to examine the information behind the decisions.

The latest penalty adds to previous regulatory action against Uber in the Netherlands. The company has already faced significant fines concerning its handling of driver information.

The dispute has also reignited debate about the use of automated systems in the gig economy, particularly where algorithmic decisions can affect a worker’s income and ability to continue using a platform.

Source:Techcrunch