Drivers across Europe say Uber has used a hard-to-scrutinize artificial intelligence system to influence their pay, the trips offered to them, and ultimately their livelihoods, and they are taking the company to court.
If the case succeeds, it could become a major test of how much authority companies can hand over to algorithms in managing human workers.
Here's what to know
Filed in Amsterdam, where Uber's European headquarters is based, the claim brings together drivers from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and other countries. As The Guardian reported, they argue Uber used automated profiling and algorithmic decision-making to tailor pay and assign trips, breaching European data protection laws.
Worker Info Exchange is leading the case on behalf of roughly 241,000 drivers in the EU and the U.K. The campaign group is headed by James Farrar, who previously won a U.K. Supreme Court ruling recognizing Uber drivers' worker rights, and the European Trade Union Confederation has called the case an unprecedented collective legal action.
Drivers describe the system as a "black box" that can show different fares to different workers for the same kind of job, and can reduce return-trip offers if it predicts a driver will not want to head home empty. Kola Oba, an Uber driver in north London, told The Guardian: "It's scary — they have all my information and they are using it against my own wellbeing. It defines how much I earn, how long I have to work, my time with my family, my resting time."
According to the lawsuit, Uber introduced dynamic pay in the U.K. in 2023, and drivers' yearly earnings have dropped by about £5,000 (nearly $6,800). The Netherlands adopted the system in 2026.
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More background
Speaking to The Guardian, Mohammed Shirwa, a 41-year-old Uber driver in Rotterdam, said the system feels like a constant presence. "It is like someone watching you all the time and knowing about your weakness – the boss is the algorithm," he said. "All the time the algorithm is learning about you and what you are willing to accept. So the prices go low but you are stuck. It knows you need the job."
That concern extends well beyond one company. More workplaces now use AI to assign tasks, predict behavior, and shape decision-making. While those tools can improve efficiency, they can also leave workers with little understanding of why they were offered lower pay, fewer jobs, or tougher conditions.
Elsewhere in Europe, Uber is already under regulatory pressure. In August 2026, the Dutch data protection authority fined the company €825 million (around $959 million) over automated account deactivations that it said were carried out without enough notice, though Uber has said it will appeal.
What's being done?
In Amsterdam, the drivers are seeking both compensation and a court order to stop practices they say break GDPR rules. The claim also says Uber trained its AI models using driver data without authorization.
Uber says the accusations are wrong. A spokesperson said, "While we haven't seen the claim yet, we categorically reject the allegations." The company also said a driver's previous behavior does not set that person's trip price. It argued that dynamic pricing can increase earnings on less desirable trips, according to The Guardian.
"It's bad enough that Uber's dynamic pay algorithms have squeezed driver pay for years now but the intrusive and underhanded way in which Uber uses its technology to monitor and influence drivers' behaviour is an affront to their dignity as workers and as human beings," Farrar said.
Where can I learn more?
This fight over Uber's algorithms is part of a bigger debate over who gains as AI reshapes work and workplace power. And even as the company faces scrutiny over driver pay, it's still pushing ahead with other major changes.
• Uber is pressing ahead with its shift to EVs even as drivers challenge how algorithms shape their work.
• In the United States, a major AI lawsuit is testing how far tech companies can go in training powerful models.
• Across industries, the backlash to AI is growing as workers and communities confront costs to jobs and resources.
That's part of why this case could reach far beyond ride-hailing. What happens in court may shape how companies use AI at work — and how much accountability comes with it.
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