1. Each supervisory authority shall ensure that the imposition of administrative fines pursuant to this Article in respect of infringements of this Regulation referred to in paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 shall in each individual case be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.
Article 83 GDPR - General conditions for imposing administrative fines
2. Administrative fines shall, depending on the circumstances of each individual case, be imposed in addition to, or instead of, measures referred to in points (a) to (h) and (j) of Article 58(2). When deciding whether to impose an administrative fine and deciding on the amount of the administrative fine in each individual case due regard shall be given to the following:
(a) the nature, gravity and duration of the infringement taking into account the nature scope or purpose of the processing concerned as well as the number of data subjects affected and the level of damage suffered by them;
(b) the intentional or negligent character of the infringement;
(c) any action taken by the controller or processor to mitigate the damage suffered by data subjects;
(d) the degree of responsibility of the controller or processor taking into account technical and organisational measures implemented by them pursuant to Articles 25 and 32;
(e) any relevant previous infringements by the controller or processor;
(f) the degree of cooperation with the supervisory authority, in order to remedy the infringement and mitigate the possible adverse effects of the infringement;
(g) the categories of personal data affected by the infringement;
(h) the manner in which the infringement became known to the supervisory authority, in particular whether, and if so to what extent, the controller or processor notified the infringement;
(i) where measures referred to in Article 58(2) have previously been ordered against the controller or processor concerned with regard to the same subject-matter, compliance with those measures;
(j) adherence to approved codes of conduct pursuant to Article 40 or approved certification mechanisms pursuant to Article 42; and
(k) any other aggravating or mitigating factor applicable to the circumstances of the case, such as financial benefits gained, or losses avoided, directly or indirectly, from the infringement.
3. If a controller or processor intentionally or negligently, for the same or linked processing operations, infringes several provisions of this Regulation, the total amount of the administrative fine shall not exceed the amount specified for the gravest infringement.
4. Infringements of the following provisions shall, in accordance with paragraph 2, be subject to administrative fines up to 10 000 000 EUR, or in the case of an undertaking, up to 2 % of the total worldwide annual turnover of the preceding financial year, whichever is higher:
(a) the obligations of the controller and the processor pursuant to Articles 8, 11, 25 to 39 and 42 and 43;
(b) the obligations of the certification body pursuant to Articles 42 and 43;
(c) the obligations of the monitoring body pursuant to Article 41(4).
5. Infringements of the following provisions shall, in accordance with paragraph 2, be subject to administrative fines up to 20 000 000 EUR, or in the case of an undertaking, up to 4 % of the total worldwide annual turnover of the preceding financial year, whichever is higher:
(a) the basic principles for processing, including conditions for consent, pursuant to Articles 5, 6, 7 and 9;
(b) the data subjects’ rights pursuant to Articles 12 to 22;
(c) the transfers of personal data to a recipient in a third country or an international organisation pursuant to Articles 44 to 49;
(d) any obligations pursuant to Member State law adopted under Chapter IX;
(e) non-compliance with an order or a temporary or definitive limitation on processing or the suspension of data flows by the supervisory authority pursuant to Article 58(2) or failure to provide access in violation of Article 58(1).
6. Non-compliance with an order by the supervisory authority as referred to in Article 58(2) shall, in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article, be subject to administrative fines up to 20 000 000 EUR, or in the case of an undertaking, up to 4 % of the total worldwide annual turnover of the preceding financial year, whichever is higher.
7. Without prejudice to the corrective powers of supervisory authorities pursuant to Article 58(2), each Member State may lay down the rules on whether and to what extent administrative fines may be imposed on public authorities and bodies established in that Member State.
8. The exercise by the supervisory authority of its powers under this Article shall be subject to appropriate procedural safeguards in accordance with Union and Member State law, including effective judicial remedy and due process.
9. Where the legal system of the Member State does not provide for administrative fines, this Article may be applied in such a manner that the fine is initiated by the competent supervisory authority and imposed by competent national courts, while ensuring that those legal remedies are effective and have an equivalent effect to the administrative fines imposed by supervisory authorities. In any event, the fines imposed shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. Those Member States shall notify to the Commission the provisions of their laws which they adopt pursuant to this paragraph by 25 May 2018 and, without delay, any subsequent amendment law or amendment affecting them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to common questions about this provision. They are general information and not legal advice.
Paragraph 1 requires that fines be effective, proportionate and dissuasive in each individual case. Under paragraph 2 they may be imposed in addition to, or instead of, the corrective measures listed in points (a) to (h) and (j) of Article 58(2), so a supervisory authority is never obliged to choose between fining and ordering compliance.
Paragraph 4 caps fines at 10 000 000 EUR or, for an undertaking, 2 % of total worldwide annual turnover of the preceding financial year, whichever is higher, for infringements of controller and processor obligations under Articles 8, 11, 25 to 39, 42 and 43, and of certification and monitoring body obligations. Paragraph 5 doubles the ceiling to 20 000 000 EUR or 4 % for infringements of the basic principles including consent (Articles 5, 6, 7 and 9), data subject rights (Articles 12 to 22), transfer rules (Articles 44 to 49), Chapter IX national obligations, and non-compliance with supervisory authority orders, with paragraph 6 applying the same ceiling to non-compliance with an order under Article 58(2).
Paragraph 2 lists the elements to which due regard must be given, including the nature, gravity and duration of the infringement, its intentional or negligent character, mitigation efforts, the degree of responsibility in light of measures taken under Articles 25 and 32, previous infringements, cooperation with the authority, the categories of data affected, how the infringement became known, compliance with previously ordered measures, adherence to approved codes of conduct or certifications, and any other aggravating or mitigating factor such as financial benefits gained. The assessment is expressly case by case.
Where a controller or processor intentionally or negligently infringes several provisions for the same or linked processing operations, paragraph 3 caps the total fine at the amount specified for the gravest infringement. The individual maxima are therefore not simply added together for connected conduct.
Not entirely. Paragraph 7 lets each Member State decide whether and to what extent administrative fines may be imposed on public authorities and bodies established there, and paragraph 9 accommodates legal systems that do not provide for administrative fines by allowing the fine to be initiated by the supervisory authority and imposed by national courts, provided the remedies have an equivalent effect and remain effective, proportionate and dissuasive.