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EUROPA PRESS DE CATALUNYA, S.A. – €30,000 Fine (Spain, 2023)

€30,000Agencia Española de Protección de Datos26 September 2023Spain
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Fine

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EUROPA PRESS DE CATALUNYA, S.A. was fined €30,000 for publishing an audio recording of a rape victim's testimony without considering her privacy. The Spanish data authority found that the publication did not add value to the news and violated the victim's right to privacy. This case highlights the importance of protecting sensitive information, especially in media reporting.

What happened

EUROPA PRESS DE CATALUNYA, S.A. published an audio recording of a rape victim's testimony on their website.

Who was affected

The rape victim whose testimony was recorded and published by the media outlet.

What the authority found

The Spanish data authority ruled that the company violated the principle of data minimization by compromising the victim's privacy.

Why this matters

This ruling emphasizes that media companies must prioritize individuals' privacy over the freedom of information. It serves as a reminder for all businesses to handle sensitive data with care.

Recorded legal citations
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Art. 5(1)(c) GDPR
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Art. 5(1) c) GDPR

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Automated check recorded — 13 March 2026.

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Full Legal Summary
Detailed

The Spanish DPA has imposed a fine of EUR 30,000 on EUROPA PRESS DE CATALUNYA, 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 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 (0)

No other enforcement actions found for EUROPA PRESS DE CATALUNYA, S.A. in ES

This is the only recorded action for this entity in this jurisdiction.

Details

Fine Date

26 September 2023

Authority

Agencia Española de Protección de Datos

Fine Amount

€30,000

About this data

Data: CMS GDPR Enforcement Tracker
Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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Cite as: Cookie Fines. EUROPA PRESS DE CATALUNYA, S.A. - Spain (2023). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu

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