Police officer – €400 Fine (Germany, 2021)
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 police officer in Germany was fined for using police databases to get personal information about a seller he was negotiating with online. He used this information to pressure the seller into changing payment terms. This case shows that even law enforcement officers must respect privacy rules.
What happened
A police officer accessed police databases for personal reasons to obtain information about an online seller.
Who was affected
An online seller whose personal data was accessed and used by a police officer without permission.
What the authority found
The DPA determined the officer violated GDPR by accessing and using personal data without a valid legal basis.
Why this matters
This case highlights that misuse of access to personal data, even by law enforcement, is subject to penalties. It reinforces the need for strict data access controls and accountability.
GDPR Articles Cited
A police officer had accessed data in police databases for private research purposes. The officer had purchased a notebook for private use on an Internet platform. Since the seller did not agree to negotiations about the method of payment, the officer used a police information system to obtain information about the seller. The police officer then sent several messages to the seller in which he provided him with certain personal data, that he had obtained through his research in the police database. The goal was to reinforce his demand for an alternative payment method by mentioning the information obtained.
Related Enforcement Actions (1)
Other enforcement actions involving Police officer in DE
Details
Fine Date
1 January 2021
Authority
Bundesbeauftragter für den Datenschutz
Fine Amount
€400
Enforcement Tracker ID
ETid-1208
About this data
Cite as: Cookie Fines. Police officer - Germany (2021). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu
Last updated: