Erfurt (dpa/th) – The corona pandemic also played the main role in the activities of the Thuringian data protection supervisory authority in 2021. This was announced by the State Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, Lutz Hasse, on Friday in Erfurt. “There were numerous requests for advice from those responsible for digital applications and also for the data protection-compliant design of the 3G evidence,” it said.
In 2021, a total of 21,226 cases were received, as Hasse announced. The number of incoming mail is thus still at the “highest level” (previous year 22,193). Around a quarter involved complaints procedures. This is an increase of more than half compared to the previous year.
115 fine procedures were opened in 2021, 72 fine notices issued. That is an increase of more than 70 percent compared to the previous year. According to the report, the total amount of fines imposed was 61,325 euros – more than three times the amount in the previous year. In addition, a total of 283 reports from public and non-public bodies were received in 2021 – around 40 percent more than in 2020.
If personal data is viewed or shared “accidentally” or by third parties, these incidents must be reported by those responsible within 72 hours in order to avoid possible administrative offense proceedings and fines. Most of the cases reported in 2021 were due to hacker attacks. A large proportion of the reports were made because personal data was “accidentally” sent to the wrong recipient – both by post and by e-mail. But theft and unauthorized access were also reported quite frequently.
