GDPR Fines & Penalties 2026
Search published European fines, warnings, orders and court decisions with a confirmed EU GDPR legal basis. Cases whose applicable law has not yet been confirmed are excluded.
Selected coverage: Europe. Only published cases are included.
14 results · Showing 1–14
Legal Newsdesk Sweden AB
The European Commission
WhatsApp Ireland Ltd
EDPS
Lisa Ballmann
Inspektorat kam Visshia sadeben savet
Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd.
CJEU case Joined Cases C‑182/22 and C‑189/22 Scalable Capital
CJEU case C‑590/22 PS (Incorrect address)
CJEU case C-768/21 Land Hessen (Obligation of the data protection authority to act)
OC
CJEU case C-33/22 Österreichische Datenschutzbehörde
CJEU case C-34/21 Hauptpersonalrat der Lehrerinnen und Lehrer
Parliament of the Republic of Latvia (Latvijas Republikas Saeima)
Frequently Asked Questions About GDPR Enforcement
Q:What types of GDPR enforcement actions exist?
GDPR enforcement actions include monetary fines (the most publicised), formal warnings, reprimands, processing bans, data erasure orders, and compliance orders. DPAs can also impose temporary or permanent limitations on data processing. Fines can reach up to EUR 20 million or 4% of annual worldwide turnover, whichever is higher, under Article 83(5) GDPR.
Q:How are GDPR fines calculated by data protection authorities?
DPAs consider factors listed in Article 83(2) GDPR: nature, gravity, and duration of the infringement; intentional or negligent character; actions taken to mitigate damage; degree of responsibility; previous infringements; degree of cooperation; categories of personal data affected; how the infringement became known; and adherence to approved codes of conduct or certification mechanisms.
Q:Can GDPR fines be appealed?
Yes, GDPR fines can be appealed through national courts. Many high-profile fines have been challenged. The appeals process varies by country. Some fines have been reduced on appeal (e.g., British Airways' fine was reduced from GBP 183 million to GBP 20 million), while others have been upheld or even increased.
Browse case links on this page
GDPR Enforcement Actions (14 total)
- Legal Newsdesk Sweden AB (European Union) – cjeu ruling – Jul 2026
- The European Commission (European Union) – cjeu ruling – Apr 2026
- WhatsApp Ireland Ltd (European Union) – cjeu ruling – Feb 2026
- EDPS (European Union) – cjeu ruling – Sept 2025
- Lisa Ballmann (European Union) – cjeu ruling – Jul 2025
- Inspektorat kam Visshia sadeben savet (European Union) – cjeu ruling – Apr 2025
- Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. (European Union) – cjeu ruling – Apr 2025
- CJEU case Joined Cases C‑182/22 and C‑189/22 Scalable Capital (European Union) – cjeu ruling – Jun 2024
- CJEU case C‑590/22 PS (Incorrect address) (European Union) – cjeu ruling – Jun 2024
- CJEU case C-768/21 Land Hessen (Obligation of the data protection authority to act) (European Union) – cjeu ruling – Apr 2024
- OC (European Union) – cjeu ruling – Mar 2024
- CJEU case C-33/22 Österreichische Datenschutzbehörde (European Union) – cjeu ruling – Jan 2024
- CJEU case C-34/21 Hauptpersonalrat der Lehrerinnen und Lehrer (European Union) – cjeu ruling – Mar 2023
- Parliament of the Republic of Latvia (Latvijas Republikas Saeima) (European Union) – cjeu ruling – Jun 2021