GDPR Fines & Penalties 2026
Search GDPR fines, penalties, warnings, orders, bans, and investigations across Europe by country, action type, GDPR article, and violation category.
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 (46 total)
- State Secretary of Justice and Security (Netherlands) – court ruling – Apr 2021
- NWO-I (Netherlands Foundation of Scientific Research Institutes) (Netherlands) – court ruling – Mar 2021
- Court case UTR 20/268 (Netherlands) – court ruling – Jan 2021
- Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food quality (Netherlands) – court ruling – Dec 2020
- ING Bank N.V. (Netherlands) – court ruling – Dec 2020
- SAMEN VEILIG MIDDEN-NEDERLAND (Netherlands) – court ruling – Dec 2020
- VoetbalTV (Netherlands) – court ruling – Nov 2020
- Municipality of Utrechtse Heuvelrug (Netherlands) – court ruling – Nov 2020
- Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (Netherlands) – court ruling – Oct 2020
- AVROTROS (Netherlands) – court ruling – Sept 2020
- Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (Netherlands) – court ruling – May 2020
- Court case AWB - 19 _ 1687 (Netherlands) – court ruling – May 2020
- Ηet college van burgemeester en wethouders van de gemeente Utrecht (Netherlands) – court ruling – Apr 2020
- De Vereniging Zorgaanbieders voor Zorgcommunicatie (VZVZ) (Netherlands) – court ruling – Jan 2020
- SPEC ENTERTAINMENT B.V. (Netherlands) – court ruling – Jan 2020
- ING Bank N.V. (Netherlands) – court ruling – Dec 2019
- Municipal Executive of the Municipality of Almere (Netherlands) – court ruling – Nov 2019
- GGD Flevoland (Netherlands) – court ruling – Nov 2019
- Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) (Netherlands) – court ruling – Nov 2019
- DFW (Netherlands) – court ruling – Nov 2019
- Public Prosecutor's Office of the Netherlands (Netherlands) – court ruling – Oct 2019