- Enforcing jurisdiction
- Spain · Geography does not establish applicable law.
- Confirmed applicable legislation
- Privacy topics
ATRESMEDIA CORPORACIÓN DE MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN, S.A. – €50,000 Fine (Spain, 2023)
Privacy enforcement record
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ATRESMEDIA CORPORACIÓN DE MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN, S.A. was fined for publishing an audio recording of a rape victim's testimony, which violated the victim's privacy rights. The Spanish data protection authority found that the publication did not add significant value to the news and harmed the victim's privacy. This case reinforces the need for media outlets to balance reporting with respect for individual privacy.
What happened
ATRESMEDIA published an audio recording of a rape victim's testimony without considering the impact on the victim's privacy.
Who was affected
The rape victim, whose testimony was published, was directly affected by this action.
What the authority found
The authority determined that the company violated data minimization principles by compromising the victim's privacy.
Why this matters
This ruling serves as a critical reminder for media companies to prioritize privacy over sensationalism in reporting. It emphasizes the importance of ethical journalism.
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The Spanish DPA has imposed a fine of EUR 50,000 on ATRESMEDIA CORPORACIÓN DE MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN, S.A.. Several media outlets, including the controller had published an audio recording of a multiple rape victim's testimony in court on their websites as well as on Twitter to report on the case. The case had attracted a lot of media attention. During its investigation, the DPA determined that the rape victim's right to privacy outweighed the controller's freedom of information. The audio recordings of the victim did not add any significant value to the reporting, but rather severely compromised the victim's privacy. For this reason, the DPA found that the controller violated the principle of data minimization.
Related Enforcement Actions (1)
Other enforcement actions involving ATRESMEDIA CORPORACIÓN DE MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN, S.A. in ES
Details
Fine Date
3 April 2023
Authority
Agencia Española de Protección de Datos
Fine Amount
€50,000
About this data
Cite as: Cookie Fines. ATRESMEDIA CORPORACIÓN DE MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN, S.A. - Spain (2023). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu
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