A new report has found that Uber and Lyft drivers in California are being "spontaneously fired" via apps, and rideshare drivers, primarily people of color, have been let go with little explanation, facing a complicated appeals process.

“This reality is that now app-based drivers can be fired, not even by a human being, but just by an app,” Asian Law Caucus attorney Winnie Kao, who worked on the report, told NBC News. “That you can wake up one day and try to turn on the app to go to work, and you’re just blocked. Hearing the stories from the drivers about that was really troubling and really disturbing.”

Data from the recent report by the Asian Law Caucus and Rideshare Drivers United revealed that two-thirds of drivers in California had been deactivated by the app, with people of color being disproportionately affected. Of those surveyed, 30% received no explanation for their deactivation, and 42% were informed that it was due to customer complaints.

The report highlighted the distressing reality that app-based drivers can be fired with no human interaction, NBC reported. In some cases, drivers were blocked from the app without warning, leaving them with no income, while others reported facing discrimination, harassment and subject to assault while working. The majority of those who filled out the survey were immigrants and people of color.

The report also noted that drivers feared facing disciplinary action after customer complaints, and half of those who reported experiencing racism said that offending customers also filed complaints about them. Drivers of color were deactivated significantly more often than whites, and many feared that false complaints from racist passengers could end their jobs.

Uber and Lyft offered opposing statements, with a spokesperson for Uber denying that its deactivation process is run through the app and stated that its representatives conduct a thorough evaluation before making a decision. Lyft also rejected the report's findings, stating that the company strongly condemns discrimination and are committed to preventing it on its online platform.

The report also calls for basic labor protection for all drivers, including "the right to a safe and healthy workplace," the right to be free from discrimination, or retaliation and safety net measures. Many of the respondents who were deactivated said they experienced significant hardship, with some losing their homes or cars as a result.