Uber receives record Dutch fine for privacy

1. Uber receives a 290 million fine from the Dutch Data Protection Authority

The Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) has imposed a fine of 290 million euros, the highest Dutch privacy fine ever. The taxi service sent personal data of European drivers to servers in the US and did not sufficiently protect the data, according to the privacy watchdog.

According to the AP, this included identity documents and payment details, but sometimes also criminal and medical data of drivers. The investigation into Uber started after a complaint from more than 170 French drivers.

Uber calls the fine “unjust and unfair” and says it will immediately appeal.

2. Shoe chain Bristol in the Netherlands bankrupt

The Dutch branch of shoe store Bristol filed for bankruptcy on Monday. This was announced by the Belgian owner Euro Shoe Group. 74 of the 177 stores in Belgium will be taken over by the French shoe chain Chausse and other parties, the family business could not find a takeover candidate for the Dutch stores.

In our country, 370 people still work at Bristol. The chain has been struggling with poor financial results for years. The parent company points to the pandemic, rising rent and energy costs and declining consumer purchasing power. A total clearance sale has been organized since June. The webshop has been closed since August 19, a limited number of branches remain open until a curator has been appointed.

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3. Startup Alphadoc pulls the plug on API platform

Daan Stolk and Job Rietbergen have pulled the plug on Alphadoc, the startup with which they have been building a documentation platform for API developers since 2021. In 2022, they raised (pre-seed) money from VCs and a whole host of (former) leaders from Adyen, Hubs, Recruitee and WeTransfer.

Op LinkedIn Alphadoc now reports that its product was successful, but did not generate enough revenue to continue.

Also read: Alphadoc launches API documentation platform with pre-seed investment

4. Co-founder of Shell Ventures leaves

Geert van de Wouw is leaving as director of Shell Ventures, he announced on LinkedIn. Van de Wouw co-founded the corporate venturing arm of the oil giant 12 years ago, which invested in companies developing technologies and business models that can accelerate the energy transition within Shell and beyond.

In total, Shell has supported more than 100 companies and investors, he writes, including from a $1.4 billion fund he helped raise during the coronavirus crisis. ‘Every day felt like a mini-MBA in innovation and investing.’ Van de Wouw has not yet revealed what he will do next, but he does say that his successor will be the American Queenie What is becoming.

Also read: Geert van de Wouw (Shell Ventures): ‘If we are not careful, people will turn against the energy transition’

5. ACM approves takeover of Centric

The ACM has given permission for the acquisition of Centric by a consortium of Dutch entrepreneurs. ‘This brings an end to a long saga surrounding Gerard Sanderink’s troubled ICT company’, the competition watchdog said in a statement. The sale was announced last month. Centric CEO Peter Wakkie believes that the agreement will bring the company ‘definitely into calmer waters’.

Investor Imker Capital Partners has a majority in the consortium of new owners, which has been subtly named Stichting Don Quixote. The group also consists of founder Adriaan Mol of payment processor Mollie, founder and CEO Ronald Bezuur of cloud company Uniserver and founder Bram Bastiaansen of ACT Group.

6. And then this: Australian workers get the right to be unreachable

Since Monday, Australians have the right to unavailability. Outside of work hours, they will now be allowed to ignore texts, emails and phone calls from their boss. The new law is intended to ensure a better work-life balance and prevent Australians from working unpaid overtime.

An important nuance: ignoring work is not allowed if it is ‘unreasonable’ and is even punishable by a fine of up to 19,000 Australian dollars. For employers who unnecessarily contact their employee outside of working hours, the maximum fine is even 94,000 dollars. What is unreasonable is likely to be fodder for lawsuits soon.

What we also read:

• Ikea starts trial with online platform for second-hand Billy’s and Ektorps (RTL)
• Mega battery Delfzijl can be connected to overcrowded power grid next year thanks to flexible contract (Nu.nl)
• Temu parent’s quarterly revenue rises 86 percent, share price plummets 30 percent (ABM FN-Dow Jones)
• Adyen has found a new CTO: Tom Adams, who comes from Square sister company Cash App (Adyen)
• Trampoline chain Jumpsquare sold to French investor (FD)