Uber drivers start European class action over soulless and scary AI algorithm

[watty]

Uber drivers launch European class action over ‘soulless’ and ‘scary’ AI algorithm

Uber drivers have launched a landmark legal action against the ride-hailing company claiming they live in “constant fear” of a “soulless” algorithm it uses to set pay and allocate jobs.  Drivers from across Europe have joined the compensation claim that could run into billions of euros. It alleges an AI-powered pay-setting system breaches data protection laws and pushes down their earnings.  The claim has been filed at Amsterdam’s district court, where the $150bn (€130bn) San Francisco tech company has its European HQ. It is the first collective legal move of its kind, according to the European Trade Union Confederation.

The case centres on an opaque “black box” algorithm fed on information about drivers, which sets a personalised rate for each ride. Drivers fear it pushes down fares to the minimum they are willing to accept.  Drivers say the algorithm has offered the same job to different people at different pay rates and offers them less for a return journey after a long trip because it calculates they will not want to come home empty.

... The Dutch data protection authority fined ⁠Uber €825m last month for deactivating driver ⁠accounts through automated systems without ​adequate notice. Uber said it would appeal. The company is also planning to roll out driverless cars in European cities from London to Zagreb, initially with human supervisions. 

The legal case is being led by the Worker Info Exchange, a campaign group whose founder, James Farrar, secured a UK supreme court ruling that Uber drivers should have worker rights.  Relating to about 241,000 drivers across the EU and the UK, the claim alleges that Uber has unlawfully used automated decision-making, including profiling, in dynamically setting pay and allocating work.

The lawsuit, which also claims the company unlawfully used driver data to train its AI models, is seeking damages for affected drivers and an injunction to halt the conduct which it claims breaches GDPR data regulations.

<snip>

 

[Octavia1]

Uber drivers launch European class action over ‘soulless’ and ‘scary’ AI algorithm

Uber drivers have launched a landmark legal action against the ride-hailing company claiming they live in “constant fear” of a “soulless” algorithm it uses to set pay and allocate jobs.  Drivers from across Europe have joined the compensation claim that could run into billions of euros. It alleges an AI-powered pay-setting system breaches data protection laws and pushes down their earnings.  The claim has been filed at Amsterdam’s district court, where the $150bn (€130bn) San Francisco tech company has its European HQ. It is the first collective legal move of its kind, according to the European Trade Union Confederation.

The case centres on an opaque “black box” algorithm fed on information about drivers, which sets a personalised rate for each ride. Drivers fear it pushes down fares to the minimum they are willing to accept.  Drivers say the algorithm has offered the same job to different people at different pay rates and offers them less for a return journey after a long trip because it calculates they will not want to come home empty.

... The Dutch data protection authority fined ⁠Uber €825m last month for deactivating driver ⁠accounts through automated systems without ​adequate notice. Uber said it would appeal. The company is also planning to roll out driverless cars in European cities from London to Zagreb, initially with human supervisions. 

The legal case is being led by the Worker Info Exchange, a campaign group whose founder, James Farrar, secured a UK supreme court ruling that Uber drivers should have worker rights.  Relating to about 241,000 drivers across the EU and the UK, the claim alleges that Uber has unlawfully used automated decision-making, including profiling, in dynamically setting pay and allocating work.

The lawsuit, which also claims the company unlawfully used driver data to train its AI models, is seeking damages for affected drivers and an injunction to halt the conduct which it claims breaches GDPR data regulations.

<snip>

 


Didny Holland jus fine uber 960 million ?  I can see the drivers winnin this ....

Meanwhile in ireland
 

[Taxi driver42]

Think its time to switch it off permantly

[watty]

@ Octy:

The Dutch data protection authority fined ⁠Uber €825m last month for deactivating driver ⁠accounts through automated systems without ​adequate notice

... [also] secured a UK supreme court ruling that Uber drivers should have worker rights

The odds are good imho.  If it walks like a duck etc etc...

[watty]

Think its time to switch it off permantly

Stay a 'partner-driver', you might get some compo?

[Rat Catcher]

It's obvious they manipulate markets... proving it is the problem. Look at Free Now's €40+ surge fees of which they trouser 90-100%. Once they can make it look busy to the rider he'll cough up whether it is actually busy or not. As in most things, perception is key. Also interesting that the working class Joe's who can ill afford to be fleeced the way Free Now fleeces them never complain... it's always the rock stars and TV personalities that wouldn't miss the coin that kick up a fuss.

[silverbullet]

It's obvious they manipulate markets... proving it is the problem. Look at Free Now's €40+ surge fees of which they trouser 90-100%. Once they can make it look busy to the rider he'll cough up whether it is actually busy or not. As in most things, perception is key. Also interesting that the working class Joe's who can ill afford to be fleeced the way Free Now fleeces them never complain... it's always the rock stars and TV personalities that wouldn't miss the coin that kick up a fuss.

They certainly approached malleable politicians and their civil servants:
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022/jul/10/what-are-the-uber-files-guide