State bodies exempt from fines for misusing personal data

Government departments and State bodies will be exempt from sanctions and fines for misusing someone’s personal information under new Europe-wide laws set to come into force later this year.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan and department officials have confirmed that while private companies will face fines of up to €20m or 4% of a company’s income for misusing personal information under the new rules, the same standards will not apply to the public sector.

Under new laws set to be enacted in early summer, data protection rights in Ireland and other countries will be significantly increased in order to protect the general public from having their information stolen, resold without their knowledge, or misused online.