- Enforcing jurisdiction
- Belgium · Geography does not establish applicable law.
- Confirmed applicable legislation
- Privacy topics
Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen – €10,000 Fine (Belgium, 2022)
Privacy enforcement record
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Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen was fined EUR 10,000 for not allowing users to unsubscribe from their email newsletter. The Belgian data protection authority found that the company lacked a valid reason for processing personal data through the newsletter. This case emphasizes the importance of respecting users' rights to control their personal information.
What happened
Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen sent newsletters without providing an option to unsubscribe.
Who was affected
Twitter users who received the company's email newsletter without the ability to opt-out.
What the authority found
The authority ruled that the railroad company did not have a valid legal basis for processing personal data through the newsletter and failed to respect users' rights.
Why this matters
This case serves as a reminder for businesses to ensure that their marketing communications comply with data protection laws, particularly by providing clear options for users to manage their subscriptions.
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The Belgian DPA has imposed a fine of EUR 10,000 on the Belgian national railroad company (Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen). A Twitter user who had received an e-mail newsletter from the railroad company had filed a complaint with the DPA. According to the Twitter user, the newsletter did not include an option to unsubscribe. During its investigation, the DPA found, first, that that there was no valid legal basis for the processing of personal data through the newsletter. Contrary to the railroad company's view, the DPA concluded that the newsletter was not necessary for the performance of the contracts between passengers and the company and that this performance interest therefore did not constitute a legal basis for the processing. Furthermore, the DPA found that the data subjects' right to object was not sufficiently taken into account, as it was not possible to unsubscribe from the newsletter directly via the e-mails.
Related Enforcement Actions (0)
No other enforcement actions found for Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen in BE
This is the only recorded action for this entity in this jurisdiction.
Details
Fine Date
4 May 2022
Authority
Autorité de Protection des Données
Fine Amount
€10,000
About this data
Cite as: Cookie Fines. Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen - Belgium (2022). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu
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