Unknown Company – €2,860 Fine (Hungary, 2019)
General GDPR enforcement action
This case relates to broader data protection obligations, not specifically to cookie or consent banner compliance. It is not included in cookie statistics or the Risk Calculator.
An unknown company in Hungary was fined for accessing an employee's work devices and emails without proper notice while the employee was on sick leave. This case highlights the importance of transparency and proper procedures in employee monitoring. Employers should have clear policies and notify employees about monitoring practices.
What happened
An employer accessed an employee's work devices and emails without prior notification while the employee was on sick leave.
Who was affected
The affected party was an employee whose work devices and emails were accessed without consent.
What the authority found
The Hungarian authority ruled that the employer violated GDPR by not notifying the employee and failing to have proper monitoring policies in place.
Why this matters
This case emphasizes the need for employers to have clear, documented policies on employee monitoring and to ensure transparency with their staff. It highlights the importance of balancing business needs with employee privacy rights.
GDPR Articles Cited
An employee was on sick leave when his employer checked his desktop, laptop and emails to ensure that his work-related duties were being covered in his absence. The employer then suspended his account. The employee did not receive pre-notification and did not have the chance to copy / delete his private information (telephone numbers, messages). According to NAIH, employers must record the access with minutes and photos. Employment agreements must regulate whether employees can use work equipment for private purposes. Privacy notices must contain the reasons for employee monitoring (e.g. business continuity, internal investigation, disciplinary purposes, and the specific retention period of employee data - including the length and recurrence of backup copies. Employers must also prepare ”balancing tests” to prove their legitimate interests for general employee monitoring and specific cases.
Related Enforcement Actions (2)
Other enforcement actions involving Unknown Company in HU
Fine
€3K
Details
Fine Date
15 October 2019
Authority
Nemzeti Adatvédelmi és Információszabadság Hatóság
Fine Amount
€2,860
Enforcement Tracker ID
ETid-259
About this data
Cite as: Cookie Fines. Unknown Company - Hungary (2019). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu
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