(Finance) – TheDutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) has inflicted a Uber fined 290 million euros, accusing the company of failing to adequately safeguard the personal data of European taxi drivers transferred to the United States. The DPA found that the transfer constitutes “a serious violation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)”, a regulation that protects the fundamental rights of European citizens regarding the management of their personal data.
According to the DPA president, Aleid Wolfsenthe data protection It is a fundamental right that companies must respect carefully, especially when data is transferred outside the European Union. “In Europe, the GDPR protects people’s fundamental rights by requiring companies and governments to handle personal data with due care,” Wolfsen said. However, he added that outside Europe, this level of protection is not always guaranteed. “Companies are usually required to take additional measures if they store personal data of European citizens outside the European Union. Uber has not met the GDPR requirements to ensure the level of data protection regarding the transfer to the United States. This is very serious,” he concluded.
Despite the violation, the Authority confirmed that Uber has put an end to the offending behavior. However, the fine is a clear indication of the seriousness of the violation and a warning to other companies operating globally.