The Dutch privacy regulator has issued a fine of €10 million to Uber, accusing the ride-hailing platform for a lack of transparency in the handling of its European drivers’ data.
The Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) imposed the fine after more than 170 French drivers raised concerns with the Human Rights and Citizen League. The French interest group’s complaint was forwarded to the Netherlands where Uber’s European headquarters are located.
The AP says that Uber was not clear about “the length of time it had kept European drivers’ data and the non-European countries it had been sent to”. In a statement, the AP further added, “Uber also made it difficult for drivers to exercise their privacy rights.”
For example, users have the right to access, correct, or erase their data. However, the regulator deemed that Uber had made submitting a request to see their data “needlessly complicated” for the drivers. Although a digital form existed, it was very difficult to find on the app and the information shared was hard to interpret.
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The company’s privacy policy also failed to clearly state how long drivers' data was held and what protective measures were taken when such data was transferred outside of the European Economic Area (EEA).
Uber insists it has since taken steps to address these issues it has appealed against the decision.
