Store detective – Fine (Germany, 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 store detective in Germany was fined for using a shoplifting suspect's contact details for personal reasons. This action breached privacy rules, even though no monetary fine was imposed. It shows that personal data collected for work should not be used for private matters.
What happened
The store detective used a shoplifting suspect's contact details for personal purposes.
Who was affected
The person accused of shoplifting whose contact details were misused by the store detective.
What the authority found
The data protection authority determined that the store detective improperly used personal data collected for professional reasons for private purposes.
Why this matters
This case highlights that individuals handling personal data must respect its intended use, even if no financial penalty is applied. It serves as a warning that misuse of data can lead to regulatory actions.
Source checks
Linked-source text retrieved.
Automated check recorded — 22 March 2026.
Processing notes: articles corrected, authority corrected.
Retrieved text may be a secondary summary or an announcement. These automated statuses do not establish that the original decision was read or that the record received an independent legal review. How we check sources
The DPA of Bavaria has imposed a fine on a store detective. The detective had collected the contact details of a person accused of shoplifting in their professional function. However, they later contacted the person for private purposes.
Related Enforcement Actions (0)
No other enforcement actions found for Store detective in DE
This is the only recorded action for this entity in this jurisdiction.
Details
Fine Date
1 January 2023
Authority
Bundesbeauftragter für den Datenschutz
About this data
Cite as: Cookie Fines. Store detective - Germany (2023). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu
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