Uber faces record-breaking €290 million fine for data privacy violations. The Dutch DPA found Uber transferred sensitive data of European taxi drivers to US servers without proper safeguards.
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| Ride-sharing giant Uber hit with a €290 million fine for mishandling the personal data of European taxi drivers. The Dutch DPA found the company's practices violated the GDPR. |
Amsterdam, Netherlands - August 27, 2024:
In a major setback for ride-sharing giant Uber, the Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) has imposed a staggering €290 million fine on the company. This record-breaking penalty is a direct result of Uber's mishandling of European taxi drivers' personal data, which was transferred to US servers without adequate safeguards.
The Dutch DPA found that Uber had collected and transferred sensitive information such as account details, taxi licenses, location data, photos, payment details, and identity documents to its US headquarters for over two years. The company's failure to use appropriate transfer tools to protect this data was deemed a serious breach of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
This is not the first time Uber has faced regulatory scrutiny for its data privacy practices. In 2018, the company was fined €600,000 for failing to report a data breach within the required 72-hour timeframe. More recently, in 2023, Uber was fined €10 million for not providing sufficient details about its data retention periods and sharing practices.
The €290 million fine is a significant blow to Uber, and it is likely to face increased scrutiny from regulators around the world. The company has already indicated its intention to appeal the decision, arguing that it has taken steps to improve its data privacy practices. However, the Dutch DPA's decision sends a clear message to businesses operating in Europe that they must comply with strict data protection regulations or face severe consequences.
The fine also raises questions about Uber's broader approach to data privacy. While the company has made significant strides in recent years, the repeated violations suggest that there may be deeper-rooted issues within its organization. It remains to be seen whether Uber can successfully address these problems and regain the trust of its users and regulators.