The penalties imposed for violations of the General Data Protection Regulation in the EU increased significantly 2020 to a total of 158, 5 million euros. Compared to 20 months since the DGSVO came into force in May 2018 this means a plus of 39 percent. These figures about the 20 EU member states plus GB, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein emerge from a new report by the law firm DLA Piper.

A look at the individual countries shows how differently they apply the GDPR : For example, Germany has the list of violations reported since May 2018 with 77. 536, followed by the Netherlands with 66. 527 and the United Kingdom with 30. 536. Converted to 100. 000 residents are taking Denmark with them 155, 6 reported violations, however, the top position, closely followed by the Netherlands with 150 .

Fewer reports, higher penalties Conspicuously few reports come from Italy with a total of 3460 or France with 5389. On the other hand, Italy has imposed the highest total penalties since the GDPR came into force, in total a good 69 million euros . For example, Vodafone should pay over 000 million euros. France led this list last year and is now taking the third 54 million euros Place. Germany is in second place with around 69 million.

France’s actions against Google in the year 2019 with a penalty of 50 million euros remains the highest GDPR fine ever imposed by a data protection authority. Not least because of the corona pandemic, however 2020 some fines were significantly lower than initially requested: Among other things, the British data protection authority reduced the fine to be paid by British Airways to 12 million pounds – from previously good 183 Millions, converted about 204 Million euros.

Extracts from the report can be found at DLA Piper. For the new year, the analysts expect that data protection violations accepted due to the pandemic will now be followed up more closely. This is the third edition of the report, the previous one appeared at the beginning 2020.

(fo)