UK Uber Drivers Take Algorithmic Accountability to Court in Historic GDPR Challenge
A coalition of UK-based Uber drivers has launched a groundbreaking legal case against Uber BV, the company’s Netherlands-based subsidiary. The lawsuit centers on two critical issues in the digital age: access to personal data and algorithmic transparency for gig economy workers.
The Core of the Legal Challenge
- Uber drivers and Uber Eats couriers across Europe are being invited to join the action
- Targets Uber’s use of profiling and data-driven algorithms to manage workers
- Seeks to enforce comprehensive data access rights under EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
Filed in Amsterdam’s district court, the case represents a pivotal test of how existing data protection laws apply to automated decision-making systems that increasingly govern modern workplaces.
Why This Case Matters
This legal action arrives at a crucial moment as:
- EU lawmakers develop a risk-based AI regulation framework
- The European Commission prepares its Digital Services Act proposal
- Platform worker rights gain prominence in policy discussions
The drivers are demanding:
- Full GDPR compliance from Uber
- €10,000 daily fines for non-compliance
- Ability to transfer personal data to a union-administered data trust
GDPR: A Tool for Algorithmic Transparency?
The GDPR provides EU citizens with several critical rights:
- Right to access personal data held by companies
- Right to data portability for reuse elsewhere
- Special protections against solely automated decisions with significant impact
Article 22 of GDPR is particularly relevant, as it requires:
- Information about the logic behind automated processing
- Safeguards against unfair algorithmic decisions
- Options for human intervention
“This case could set important precedents for algorithmic accountability in the workplace,” notes data protection expert James Farrar, one of the lead claimants.
What Drivers Are Saying
Drivers report significant gaps in Uber’s data disclosures:
- Partial GPS data (only 1 month out of 2 years provided)
- Missing passenger rating information
- No access to performance profiles or tags
“Uber maintains secret profiles on drivers but refuses to disclose them,” Farrar told TechCrunch. “Many face deactivation based on opaque ‘fraud detection’ systems.”
Uber’s Response
Uber maintains it complies with data requests:
“Our privacy team works hard to provide entitled personal data. We explain when we cannot disclose information, such as when it would infringe others’ rights under GDPR.”
The company states it responded to drivers’ 2019 data requests and awaits the court’s review of claims.
Broader Implications
This case could:
- Clarify the scope of GDPR’s Article 22
- Establish new standards for algorithmic transparency
- Empower gig workers with greater data rights
Newcastle University’s Professor Lilian Edwards observes:
“Uber must demonstrate suitable algorithmic safeguards. The key question is: What constitutes a meaningful explanation of how automated decisions are made?”
The UK Information Commissioner’s Office guidance specifies that companies must provide “meaningful information about the logic involved” in automated decisions.
Next Steps
The App Drivers & Couriers Union (ADCU) is:
- Building an international coalition of support
- Raising £30,000 via crowdfunding
- Encouraging more drivers to join through the Worker Info Exchange
This landmark case could redefine the balance of power between platform companies and the workers who sustain them.
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