Major blow for Uber. The ridesharing giant has been hit with a record fine – $324 million – after sharing sensitive driver data.
Uber has been fined by Dutch authorities for breaching European regulations on data protection and customer privacy, as it was found that sensitive driver information was being transmitted and stored on servers in the USA, reports Bloomberg as cited by Ziarul Financiar.
This is the largest fine ever imposed on a ridesharing company, as well as the highest penalty issued by Dutch authorities.
According to Dutch authorities, Uber was collecting information on drivers in Europe, such as details from taxi licenses, drivers' locations, and in some cases, data on their medical and criminal history.
The Dutch Data Protection Authority launched an investigation into Uber after over 170 French drivers lodged complaints with a French human rights defense group. The investigation fell under the responsibility of Dutch authorities, especially since Uber's European headquarters are located in the Netherlands.