Drivers across the UK, Netherlands, and other European nations have initiated a collective legal claim against Uber at Amsterdam’s district court, marking the first coordinated legal action of its kind according to the European Trade Union Confederation. The lawsuit targets what plaintiffs describe as an opaque algorithmic system that determines personalized pay rates for individual rides, allegedly pushing earnings downward and using driver behavioral data in ways that violate data protection regulations. The case relates to approximately 241,000 drivers across the EU and UK.
Drivers participating in the action have provided accounts of the algorithm offering identical jobs to different drivers at varying compensation rates and adjusting pay based on perceived willingness to accept lower fares. One driver reported being offered £23 for a job while a colleague was simultaneously offered £27 for the same work, suspecting the discrepancy stemmed from his prior acceptance of lower-paying assignments. Drivers characterize the system as intrusive and exploitative, noting that it utilizes extensive personal information to influence their behavior and earnings potential.
The claims allege Uber has unlawfully employed automated decision-making and profiling to dynamically set compensation and assign work since 2023 in the UK and this year in the Netherlands. The lawsuit further asserts the company improperly used driver data to train AI models. Plaintiffs seek damages for affected drivers and an injunction halting the practices, citing violations of GDPR regulations. A 2025 study by University of Oxford academics found substantial reductions in driver earnings following the algorithm’s introduction, though Uber disputed the research as relying on incomplete data.
Uber rejected the allegations, stating its system uses real-time trip information such as route, duration, and destination to calculate fares rather than individual driver behavior. The company noted drivers receive earnings information before accepting trips and maintained that the majority of fares go directly to drivers. The Dutch data protection authority previously imposed an €825m fine on Uber for deactivating driver accounts through automated systems without adequate notice; Uber indicated it would appeal.
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