DPA case 1/2023 – Order (Greece, 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 Greek person asked Google to remove certain search results that affected their reputation but got no response. The Hellenic Data Protection Authority found that Google did not properly handle the request. This case highlights the importance of companies responding to user requests for data removal.
What happened
A Greek data subject submitted an erasure request to Google for certain search results but received no response.
Who was affected
The individual who requested the removal of search results related to their personal and professional reputation.
What the authority found
The authority determined that Google did not adequately address the erasure request, which is a requirement under GDPR.
Why this matters
This case emphasizes the need for companies to take user requests seriously and respond appropriately. It serves as a reminder that failing to do so can lead to scrutiny from data protection authorities.
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The complainant, a Greek data subject, submitted an erasure request to Google, the controller, seeking the removal of various search results on the website which include links to third party website containing information related to the data subject's status, and personal and professional reputation. After receiving no response to their request, the data subject lodged a complaint against Google Ireland Limited, for failure to satisfy their right to erasure. Responding to the complaint, Google asserted that it had balanced the relevant rights and interests, including the relevance to the complainant's professional life, and decided not to cut the content. Furthermore, the content of the links are accurate, as the complainant has not proven they are inaccurate; up to date, as the professional activity in question is still carried out today. Therefore, the public has a legitimate interest in accessing the information. After considering the submissions of both parties and reviewing the evidence, the section of the Greek DPA tasked with investigating the complaint issued its decision. Firstly, the decision acknowledged that, in accordance with Article 51 and 55 GDPR, this authority is competent to supervise the application of the GDPR to this case. This is because, while Google Ireland Limited is the company's main establishment in the EU for user data collected and processed when users interact with Google services, the processing of erasure requests is conducted by Google LLC, based in the US. This has been confirmed, by Google LLC, in communications with the EDPB. Therefore, while in cases concerning other personal data processing the Irish DPA (DPC) is the competent supervisory authority, that is not the case in this context. Article 56(2) of the GPDR states that "by way of derogation from paragraph 1, each supervisory authority shall be competent to examine a complaint lodged or to deal with a possible infringement of this Regulation if the subject matter concer
Outcome
Order
A binding order requiring the controller to take specific action.
Related Enforcement Actions (0)
No other enforcement actions found for DPA case 1/2023 in GR
This is the only recorded action for this entity in this jurisdiction.
Details
About this data
Cite as: Cookie Fines. DPA case 1/2023 - Greece (2023). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu
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