Key facts
- Uber drivers have launched a class-action lawsuit in Amsterdam against Uber.
- The lawsuit alleges that Uber's AI algorithm used for setting pay and allocating jobs breaches data protection laws and suppresses earnings.
- Drivers claim the algorithm is opaque and exploits their data and vulnerabilities.
- The case involves drivers from the UK, Netherlands, and potentially other European countries.
- Uber denies the allegations, stating its pricing is based on real-time trip information and that drivers see earnings before accepting trips.
Uber drivers in Europe have initiated a significant class-action lawsuit against the ride-hailing company, alleging that its AI-powered algorithm used for setting pay rates and assigning jobs is "soulless," "scary," and exploitative. The legal action, filed at Amsterdam's district court, claims the opaque "black box" system breaches data protection laws, unlawfully uses driver data to train AI models, and pushes down earnings, potentially impacting billions of dollars in compensation.
Drivers from the UK, the Netherlands, and other countries are participating in the claim, which is being led by the campaign group Worker Info Exchange. They contend that the algorithm personalizes ride rates, sometimes offering the same job at different prices to different drivers based on their perceived willingness to accept lower fares. Drivers like Mohammed Shirwa and Kola Oba have shared experiences of the algorithm learning their weaknesses and using their data against their well-being, affecting their income, working hours, and family time.
Uber has denied the allegations, asserting that its app uses real-time trip information to calculate fares and that drivers see their earnings before accepting a trip. The company stated that dynamic pricing aims to increase pay on less attractive trips and that the percentage Uber keeps has remained relatively flat. Uber also noted that a 2025 University of Oxford study, which it claims used incomplete data, found substantial cuts in driver earnings after the introduction of the dynamic algorithm.
This legal challenge is the first of its kind in Europe, according to the European Trade Union Confederation. It follows a recent €825 million fine imposed on Uber by the Dutch data protection authority for deactivating driver accounts through automated systems without adequate notice, a decision Uber plans to appeal. The lawsuit seeks damages for affected drivers and an injunction to halt the alleged unlawful practices.