Significant Amendments To The Data Protection Act

Administrative Fines to Be Extended to Public Authorities

The Government proposes that an administrative fine may also be imposed on public authorities and public administrative bodies for breaches of data protection legislation in order to make the system of sanctions more consistent across the public and private sectors. Fixed maximum amounts are proposed for public authorities: depending on the infringement, up to EUR 500,000 or EUR 1,000,000. In determining the amount of the fine, account would be taken of the authority’s size and financial standing, as well as the seriousness of the infringement. However, administrative fines could not be imposed on courts of law or on the offices of Parliament. Situations involving the disclosure of personal data in order to reconcile public access to official documents with data protection would also remain outside the scope of application.