Website operator – €2,000 Fine (Spain, 2022)

€2,000Agencia Española de Protección de Datos21 January 2022Spain
final
Fine

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 Spanish website operator was fined EUR 2,000 for placing cookies before getting user consent and providing unclear cookie information. This matters because it highlights the importance of transparency and consent in online data practices.

What happened

The website operator placed cookies on users' devices without first obtaining their consent and provided unclear information about the cookies.

Who was affected

Visitors to the website who had cookies placed on their devices without clear information or consent.

What the authority found

The Spanish data protection authority ruled that the website operator violated GDPR by not having a privacy policy and failing to inform users about cookies properly.

Why this matters

This case underscores the need for website operators to ensure clear communication about cookies and obtain user consent before placing them. It serves as a reminder to review and update cookie consent mechanisms to comply with GDPR.

GDPR Articles Cited

Art. 13 GDPR
Full Legal Summary
Detailed

The Spanish DPA (AEPD) imposed a fine of EUR 2,000 on a website operator for the lack of a privacy policy on its website, in violation of Art. 13 GDPR.

Violations (3)

Cookies Placed Before Consent
critical

Non-essential cookies (tracking, advertising) are placed on the user's device before obtaining valid consent.

Art. 6(1) GDPR

Unclear Cookie Information
high

The cookie banner or cookie policy provides vague, incomplete, or unclear information about what cookies are used and why.

Art. 12, 13 GDPR

Misleading Banner Messaging
critical

The cookie banner uses misleading language to trick or pressure users into accepting cookies (dark patterns).

Art. 7 GDPR

Details

Fine Date

21 January 2022

Authority

Agencia Española de Protección de Datos

Fine Amount

€2,000

Enforcement Tracker ID

ETid-1007

About this data

Data: CMS GDPR Enforcement Tracker
Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
AI-verified and classified

Cite as: Cookie Fines. Website operator - Spain (2022). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu

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