Private individual – €5,000 Fine (Germany, 2023)
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.
A private individual in Germany was fined for using personal data from a video game opponent inappropriately. They found their opponent's address through a customer database and threatened to confront them. This case highlights the importance of respecting others' privacy, even in online gaming.
What happened
A private individual tracked down their video game opponent's address using a customer database without permission.
Who was affected
The opponent in the video game whose personal information was accessed and threatened.
What the authority found
The DPA ruled that the individual improperly used personal data, violating GDPR's requirement for lawful processing.
Why this matters
This case shows that individuals can be held accountable for misusing personal data, even in casual settings like gaming. It serves as a reminder for everyone to handle personal information responsibly.
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The DPA of Hamburg has imposed a mid-four-figure fine on a private individual for improper use of the personal data of an opponent in a video game. The case occurred on the live streaming platform Twitch, where the streamer obtained the real name of their opponent during a game. With this knowledge, the streamer used their professional access to a customer database to find out the opponent's address. They then announced that they would personally seek out their opponent.
Related Enforcement Actions (16)
Other enforcement actions involving Private individual in DE
Fine
€5K
Details
Fine Date
1 January 2023
Authority
Bundesbeauftragter für den Datenschutz
Fine Amount
€5,000
Enforcement Tracker ID
ETid-2231
About this data
Cite as: Cookie Fines. Private individual - Germany (2023). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu
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