Moderate
Guidance
Announced
European Union · Apr 4, 2023
noyb launches free tool for broad Facebook opt‑out under GDPR
The privacy NGO noyb released an online tool that lets users submit a broad objection to Meta’s processing of personal data for targeted advertising, which Meta bases on “legitimate interest”. The tool simplifies the GDPR right to object…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Data protection authority action
Decided
Austria · Mar 27, 2023
Austrian DPA rules CRIF's processing of Austrian citizens' personal data illegal
The Austrian Data Protection Authority found that CRIF GmbH illegally processed addresses, dates of birth, names and other personal data of millions of Austrians obtained from AZ Direkt without consent or legal basis, ordering the deletion…
Austrian Data Protection Authority · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Court ruling
Decided
Austria · Mar 17, 2023
Austrian Federal Administrative Court allows mobile providers to refuse access requests for location data without proof of exclusive use
The Austrian Federal Administrative Court (BVwG) ruled that A1 Telekom Austria may deny a data subject's request for traffic and location data unless the subject can prove exclusive use of the phone. The court deemed location data…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Enforcement
Filed
European Union · Feb 28, 2023
noyb files complaints against data brokers for refusing cookie‑based authentication of GDPR access requests
noyb lodged a series of complaints against websites and data brokers that denied or complicated GDPR access requests by requiring additional identification beyond cookies. The complaints argue that, under GDPR and EDPB guidance, users…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Fine
Announced
Ireland · Jan 27, 2023
Irish DPC announces €390 million fine on Meta for GDPR consent breach
The Irish Data Protection Commission announced a €390 million fine against Meta, ordering it to obtain valid consent for personalized advertising after the European Data Protection Board issued a binding decision. The fine illustrates…
Irish Data Protection Commission · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Guidance
Published
European Union · Jan 24, 2023
EDPB releases draft report on minimum requirements for cookie consent banners
The European Data Protection Board's task force issued a draft report outlining unlawful cookie banner practices under EU law. It sets a minimum threshold for consent banners, including the need for a visible reject option and prohibition…
European Data Protection Board (EDPB) · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Enforcement
Published
Ireland · Jan 11, 2023
Irish DPC fines Meta €60m for unlawful processing and €150m for transparency breaches
The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) issued a final decision imposing a €150 million fine on Facebook for transparency failures and a €60 million fine on Meta for lacking a legal basis to process personal data. The decision also…
Irish Data Protection Commission · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Enforcement
Announced
European Union · Jan 4, 2023
EU EDPB bans Meta from using personal data for personalized ads, imposes €390 million fine
The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) decided that Meta (Facebook and Instagram) may not use personal data for personalized advertising and must obtain opt‑in consent. The decision also imposes a total fine of €390 million on Meta.…
European Data Protection Board (EDPB) · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Fine
In effect
Ireland · Jan 4, 2023 · effective Jan 4, 2023
EU data protection board fines Meta €390 million and bans personalized ads
The European Data Protection Board, following the Irish Data Protection Commission, ruled that Meta's use of personal data for personalized advertising violated the GDPR and imposed a €390 million fine. Meta must obtain opt‑in consent and…
European Data Protection Board · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Enforcement
Announced
European Union · Dec 6, 2022
EU Data Protection Board rules Meta's consent bypass for personalized ads illegal
The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) decided that Meta cannot force users to accept personalized ads and must obtain a yes/no consent option. The decision overturns a previous draft decision by the Irish Data Protection Commission and…
European Data Protection Board (EDPB) · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Enforcement
Filed
European Union · Oct 27, 2022
noyb files 700+ GDPR complaints on cookie banners, prompting widespread addition of reject buttons
noyb scanned over 3,600 websites in March 2021 and filed more than 700 complaints across Europe for GDPR‑violating cookie banners lacking a clear reject option. Follow‑up scans in October 2022 showed that 41% of the sites added a reject…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Court ruling
Published
European Union · Oct 13, 2022
CJEU Advocate General opinion may limit GDPR non‑material damages compensation
The Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the EU issued an opinion that could restrict the right to claim non‑material damages under the GDPR. The opinion questions whether Article 82 allows damages without material loss and suggests…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Executive order
Signed
United States (federal) · Oct 7, 2022
US President Biden signs Executive Order on surveillance, unlikely to satisfy EU law
President Joe Biden signed a new Executive Order intended to address EU concerns over US surveillance practices. The order retains bulk surveillance and creates a non‑judicial “Data Protection Review Court,” which the source says does not…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Enforcement
Filed
European Union · Aug 9, 2022
226 GDPR complaints lodged against deceptive OneTrust cookie banners
noyb filed 226 complaints with 18 data protection authorities over websites using OneTrust cookie banners that employ deceptive designs. The complaints allege violations of GDPR requirements for a fair yes/no consent choice. Some websites…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Fine
Decided
European Union · Jul 21, 2022
6.3 million Euro fine imposed on Grindr for GDPR violations
noyb’s complaints resulted in a 6.3 million Euro fine against the gay dating app Grindr for breaching the GDPR. The fine was highlighted in noyb’s 2021 Annual Report.
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Data protection authority action
Published
Ireland · Jul 7, 2022
Irish DPC issues Draft Decision on Facebook EU-US data transfers, starts one-month comment period
The Irish Data Protection Commission issued a Draft Decision under Article 60 GDPR concerning Meta's Facebook EU‑US data transfers. The draft triggers a one‑month comment period for other European DPAs and does not immediately halt the…
Irish Data Protection Commission · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Enforcement
In effect
European Union · Jul 5, 2022
EU DPAs ban use of Google Analytics over unlawful US data transfers
The Italian Data Protection Authority (GPDP) declared Google Analytics illegal because it transfers personal data to the United States. French CNIL and Austrian DPA issued similar orders, requiring websites to stop using the service. The…
Italian Data Protection Authority (GPDP) · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Enforcement
Announced
European Union · May 24, 2022
noyb warns of widespread GDPR non‑compliance and lack of enforcement after four years
The NGO noyb states that despite the GDPR becoming applicable on 25 May 2018, many companies continue to ignore users' rights and enforcement remains weak. It notes that about 50 cross‑country cases it filed have not yet received a final…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Interpretation
Announced
European Union · May 22, 2022
Open Letter warns EU‑US data transfer deal lacks material US law changes
The open letter published on 2022‑05‑22 criticises the announced Trans‑Atlantic Data Privacy Framework for relying on US executive orders without substantive changes to US surveillance law. It argues that the framework repeats the…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Interpretation
Published
Austria · May 2, 2022
Austrian DPA rejects risk‑based approach for EU‑US data transfers, deems Google IP anonymisation insufficient
The Austrian Data Protection Authority issued a decision stating that the GDPR does not permit a risk‑based approach for transfers to insecure third countries such as the United States. It also concluded that Google’s IP anonymisation does…
Austrian Data Protection Authority · General Data Protection Regulation
