Fine: Uber shared information about its European drivers with its US headquarters for two years
Uber has been hit with a record £246m fine after transferring drivers’ personal data to the US.
The Dutch data protection watchdog imposed the fine after it was found that the group had “seriously breached” the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) during the transfer. It is the largest fine Uber has received globally and the biggest the watchdog has ever handed out.
According to the regulator, Uber shared information about its European drivers, including identity documents, taxi licenses and location data, with its headquarters in the US for two years.
The US company shared the information without using data transfer tools aimed at protecting privacy, meaning the data was ‘insufficiently protected’, according to Dutch authorities.
Uber said it would appeal the “unfair” fine.
The financial blow comes as EU countries take tougher action against the practices of major tech companies.
Uber is also embroiled in legal proceedings in the UK over the employee status of its drivers.
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