GDPR fines are getting larger and more frequent. An average fine is now more than $500,000, making a GDPR fine equivalent to a whole seed round!
The impact of Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is starting to hit home.
Fines are getting bigger, more companies are being fined and more Supervisory Authorities in Europe are taking action.
Total GDPR fines in 2019 reached a mind-boggling €417.5 million, almost 1,000 times higher than 2018. 750 companies received GDPR-related fines during the year, making the average GDPR fine around €500,000.
In November 2019, Uber was fined €600,000 by the Dutch regulator following a data breach in 2016 that affected more than 50 million users.
The increasing number of fines means that it’s only a matter of time before a smaller startup receives a fine. On average, the size of a GDPR fine in 2019 was about equivalent to an average startup’s seed round – or in other words...not worth the risk!
Steps towards GDPR compliance
Taking care of customers’ data, ensuring that you’re only collecting the data you reasonably need and only using that data for reasons that you collected it are essential steps towards achieving GDPR compliance for startups.
The first step to taking care of your customers’ data is knowing where the data is, which means ensuring that you know what SaaS products your team are using.
Uncontrolled SaaS subscriptions are a key GDPR risk for startups - if you don’t know what SaaS you’re using, you don’t know if the tools you’re using are GDPR compliant.
And if you don’t know if the tools you are using are GDPR compliant, then you’re leaving yourself open to fines. If you need any more motivation to avoid doing so, here's a list of companies who fell on the wrong side of GDPR.
List of GDPR Fines
Date
Country
Fine Amount (EUR)
Company Name
01/11/2019
Latvia
150,000
Unknown
01/10/2019
Hungary
15,100
Town of Kerepes
01/08/2019
Austria
50,000
Company in the medical sector
01/07/2019
Austria
11,000
Private person (soccer coach)
01/03/2019
Germany
50,000
N26
01/03/2019
Norway
170,000
Bergen Municipality
20/12/2019
United Kingdom
320,000
Doorstep Dispensaree Ltd. (Pharmacy)
18/12/2019
Romania
2,000
Telekom Romania Mobile Communications SA
17/12/2019
Belgium
15,000
website providing legal information
17/12/2019
Belgium
2,000
tbd
16/12/2019
Sweden
35,000
Nusvar AB
16/12/2019
Romania
2,000
Globus Score SRL
16/12/2019
Belgium
2,000
Nursing Care Organisation
11/12/2019
Hungary
1,500
Unknown Company
10/12/2019
Spain
1,600
Megastar SL
09/12/2019
Germany
9,550,000
Telecoms provider (1&1 Telecom GmbH)
09/12/2019
Germany
10,000
Rapidata GmbH
04/12/2019
Romania
20,000
S CNTAR TAROM SA (Airline)
03/12/2019
Germany
105,000
Hospital
03/12/2019
Spain
1,500
Cerrajeria Verin S.L.
03/12/2019
Spain
5,000
Linea Directa Aseguradora
02/12/2019
Romania
2,000
Nicola Medical Team 17 SRL
29/11/2019
Romania
2,500
Royal President S.R.L.
29/11/2019
Romania
500
Homeowners Association
28/11/2019
Belgium
5,000
Mayor
28/11/2019
Belgium
5,000
Municipal alderman
28/11/2019
Romania
80,000
ING Bank N.V.
28/11/2019
Spain
75,000
Curenergía Comercializador de último recurso
26/11/2019
Romania
3,000
Modern Barber
25/11/2019
Romania
11,000
Courier Services Company
22/11/2019
Romania
2,000
BNP Paribas Personal Finance S.A.
21/11/2019
Spain
60,000
Viaqua Xestion Integral Augas de Galicia
21/11/2019
France
500,000
Futura Internationale
19/11/2019
Spain
60,000
Corporacion radiotelevision espanola
19/11/2019
Spain
60,000
Xfera Moviles S.A.
19/11/2019
Spain
6,000
Sports Bar
18/11/2019
Hungary
90
Hospital
14/11/2019
Spain
30,000
Telefonica SA
13/11/2019
Spain
3,000
General Confederation of Labour ('CGT')
07/11/2019
Spain
900
TODOTECNICOS24H S.L.
06/11/2019
Spain
900
Cerrajero Online
06/11/2019
Spain
60,000
VODAFONE ESPANA, S.A.U.
31/10/2019
Spain
6,000
Jocker Premium Invex
31/10/2019
The Netherlands
900,000
UWV (Dutch employee insurance service provider)
31/10/2019
The Netherlands
50,000
Menzis (Health Insurance Company)
30/10/2019
Germany
14,500,000
Deutsche Wohnen SE
30/10/2019
Germany
Unknown
Deutsche Wohnen SE
28/10/2019
Bulgaria
511
Employer
25/10/2019
Spain
36,000
VODAFONE ESPANA, S.A.U.
24/10/2019
Hungary
7,400
Military Hospital
23/10/2019
Austria
18,000,000
Austrian Post
23/10/2019
Spain
60,000
VODAFONE ESPANA, S.A.U.
18/10/2019
Poland
9,380
Major of Aleksandrow Kujawski
18/10/2019
Greece
20,000
Wind Hellas Telecommunications
17/10/2019
Romania
2,500
UTTIS INDUSTRIES SRL
16/10/2019
Spain
60,000
Xfera Moviles S.A.
16/10/2019
Spain
8,000
Iberdrola Clientes
16/10/2019
Poland
47,000
ClickQuickNow
12/10/2019
Spain
5,000
Shop Macoyn, S.L.
09/10/2019
Romania
150,000
Raiffeisen Bank SA
09/10/2019
Romania
20,000
Vreau Credit SRL
08/10/2019
Bulgaria
5,112
The Ministry of Interior Affairs
07/10/2019
Greece
200,000
Telecommunication Service Provider
07/10/2019
Greece
200,000
Telecommunication Service Provider
07/10/2019
Bulgaria
511
B.D.
01/10/2019
Spain
30,000
Vueling Airlines
26/09/2019
Romania
9,000
Inteligo Media SA
19/09/2019
Germany
195,407
Delivery Hero
17/09/2019
Belgium
10,000
Merchant
10/09/2019
Poland
645,000
Morele.net
03/09/2019
Bulgaria
28,100
National Revenue Agency
03/09/2019
Bulgaria
1,022
Telecommunication service provide
03/09/2019
Bulgaria
5,113
Telecommunication service provide
03/09/2019
Bulgaria
11,760
Commercial representative of telecommunication service provider
03/09/2019
Bulgaria
1,121
Private enforcement agent
28/08/2019
Bulgaria
2,600,000
National Revenue Agency
28/08/2019
Bulgaria
511,000
DSK Bank
26/08/2019
Latvia
7,000
Online Services
20/08/2019
Sweden
18,630
School in Skellefteå
16/08/2019
Spain
60,000
AVON COSMETICS
Date
Country
Fine Amount (EUR)
Company Name
30/07/2019
Greece
150,000
PWC Business Solutions
25/07/2019
France
180,000
ACTIVE ASSURANCES (car insurer)
09/07/2019
United Kingdom
110,390,200
Marriott International, Inc
08/07/2019
United Kingdom
204,600,000
British Airways
05/07/2019
Romania
3,000
LEGAL COMPANY & TAX HUB SRL
02/07/2019
Romania
15,000
WORLD TRADE CENTER BUCHAREST SA
27/06/2019
Romania
130,000
UNICREDIT BANK SA
25/06/2019
Hungary
15,150
Unknown
18/06/2019
The Netherlands
460,000
Haga Hospital
13/06/2019
France
20,000
Employer UNIONTRAD COMPANY
11/06/2019
Spain
250,000
Professional Football League (LaLiga)
03/06/2019
Denmark
200,850
IDdesign A / S
28/05/2019
Belgium
2,000
Mayor
28/05/2019
France
400,000
SERGIC (Real Estate)
23/05/2019
Hungary
92,146
Organizer of SZIGET festival and VOLT festival
16/05/2019
Lithuania
61,500
Payment service provider UAB MisterTango
09/05/2019
Germany
1,400
Police Officer
06/05/2019
Czech Republic
194
Unknown
29/04/2019
Norway
203,000
Oslo Municipal Education Department
25/04/2019
Poland
12,950
Sports association
17/04/2019
Italy
50,000
Italian political party Movimento 5 Stelle
17/04/2019
Hungary
9,400
Unknown
08/04/2019
Bulgaria
510
Medical centers
05/04/2019
Hungary
34,375
Hugarian political party
05/04/2019
Hungary
1,900
Unknown
26/03/2019
Poland
220,000
Private company working with data from publicly available sources
26/03/2019
Bulgaria
5,100
A.P. EOOD
25/03/2019
Portugal
2,000
Unknown
21/03/2019
Czech Republic
9,704
Unknown
19/03/2019
Portugal
2,000
Unknown
04/03/2019
Hungary
3,200
Unnamed financial institution
28/02/2019
Czech Republic
582
Unknown
28/02/2019
Hungary
3,200
Mayor's Office of the city of Kecdkemét
26/02/2019
Bulgaria
27,100
Telecommunication service provider
26/02/2019
Czech Republic
776
Unknown
22/02/2019
Bulgaria
500
Employer
20/02/2019
Hungary
1,560
Debt collector
18/02/2019
Malta
5,000
Lands Authority
08/02/2019
Hungary
1,560
Bank
05/02/2019
Germany
2,500
Private person
05/02/2019
Portugal
20,000
Unknown
04/02/2019
Czech Republic
1,165
Car renting company
04/02/2019
Czech Republic
1,165
Credit brokerage
21/01/2019
France
50,000,000
Google Inc.
17/01/2019
Bulgaria
500
Bank
10/01/2019
Czech Republic
388
Employer
2019
Cyprus
5,000
State Hospital
2019
Cyprus
10,000
Newspaper
2019
Denmark
160,000
Taxa 4x35
2019
Germany
80,000
Unknown
2019
Cyprus
14,000
Doctor
2019
Germany
80,000
Unknown
2019
Spain
21,000
VODAFONE ESPANA, S.A.U.
2019
Spain
36,000
VODAFONE ONO, S.A.U.
2019
Spain
48,000
VODAFONE ONO, S.A.U.
2019
Spain
48,000
TELEFONICA MOVILES ESPANA, S.A.U.
2019
Spain
30,000
VODAFONE ESPANA, S.A.U.
2019
Spain
40,000
VODAFONE ESPANA, S.A.U.
2019
Spain
20,000
individual
2019
Spain
9,000
individual
2019
Spain
3,600
AMADOR RECREATIVOS, S.L
2019
Germany
800
Police Officer
20/12/2018
Austria
2,200
Private person
18/12/2018
Hungary
3,200
Unknown
17/12/2018
Germany
5,000
Kolibri Image Regina und Dirk Maass GbR
09/12/2018
Austria
4,800
Betting place
04/12/2018
Bulgaria
500
Bank
21/11/2018
Germany
20,000
Knuddels.de
25/10/2018
Czech Republic
388
Unknown
27/09/2018
Austria
300
Private car owner
17/07/2018
Portugal
400,000
Public Hospital
2018
Austria
1,800
Kebab restaurant
2018
Austria
Unknown
Restaurant
2018
Germany
20,000
Unknown
2018
Germany
500
Unknown
Unknown
Czech Republic
3,140
UniCredit Bank Czech Republic and Slovakia, a.s.
Unknown
Germany
118
Unknown
Unknown
Spain
5,000
VODAFONE ESPANA, S.A.U.
Unknown
Spain
60,000
Debt collecting agancy (GESTION DE COBROS, YO COBRO SL)
Unknown
Spain
27,000
VODAFONE ESPANA, S.A.U.
Unknown
Spain
60,000
ENDESA (energy supplier)
Unknown
Spain
9,600
Restaurant (SANTI 3000, S.L.)
Unknown
Slovakia
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Slovakia
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Slovakia
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Slovakia
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Slovakia
40,000
Slovak Telekom
Unknown
Spain
12,000
Madrilena Red de Gas
Unknown
Slovakia
50,000
Social Insurance Agency
Unknown
Czech Republic
588
Alza.cz a.s.
Unknown
Czech Republic
980
Individual entrepreneur - no further details published
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