> Uber is an American company with all systems running in the US

The company registration with headquarters in the Netherlands begs to differ, as do all those European Uber drivers

They interacted with a local subsidiary. Being subsidiaries of an American company does not mean that they get to ignore local laws. Funnily enough, even Americans get to follow the rules in other countries.

So they sent their documents to the local company, which in turn transferred them overseas. I really fail to see how this is the drivers’ fault.

If you are an American company you still have to comply with local laws. It's not absurd at all. If Uber doesn't like it, it is free to leave the EU.

Why is this absurd? Companies bend over backwards to do business in countries like China, put up with all kinds of nonsensical local laws and rules.

This privacy requirement at least makes sense, it is the local government’s responsibility to protect their citizens privacy.

Comments like the above reflect how big corporations have gotten, they will push and bend the laws until someone hits back. This is an example of a government hitting back. Good on them

That is an absurdly Americentric take on this case. Corporations should adopt to local laws, not the other way around.

It's more like 'if you want to do business in the EU, abide by EU rules'. Applicable to every company.

Your explanation is in the second paragraph:

"In Europe, the GDPR protects the fundamental rights of people, by requiring businesses and governments to handle personal data with due care", Dutch DPA chairman Aleid Wolfsen says. "But sadly, this is not self-evident outside Europe. Think of governments that can tap data on a large scale. That is why businesses are usually obliged to take additional measures if they store personal data of Europeans outside the European Union. Uber did not meet the requirements of the GDPR to ensure the level of protection to the data with regard to transfers to the US. That is very serious."