Data protectors impose million-dollar fine on German online retailer

One Report of the Handelsblatt according to a report, the German online retailer Notebooksbilliger is to pay a total of 10.4 million euros for video surveillance of its employees. So far, this is said to be the highest fine that has since been imposed in Lower Saxony for disregarding data protection. The accusation is that the German online retailer permanently monitored its employees by video for two years.

The retail company disputes this. According to Notebooksbilliger, the purpose of the video tracking was to follow the flow of goods during storage and sales. The recordings would also have provided indications of theft. However, the data protection officer criticizes the fact that random bag checks would also have been possible in addition to pure theft checks.

The Lower Saxony data protection commissioner went on to criticize that this was a "serious case of video surveillance. Even customers were affected, as some cameras were also directed at seats in the sales area.

For Oliver Hellmold, the head of Notebooksbilliger, the fine of 10.4 million euros is completely disproportionate. It is not commensurate with the company's financial strength and the seriousness of the alleged violation. The intention is to "make an example" at the company's expense, so to speak, in order to establish as deterrent an example as possible when it comes to data protection.

However, the data protection authority shows little understanding: "Companies should understand that they are massively violating the rights of their employees with such intensive video surveillance," Barbara Thiel, the data protection commissioner, is quoted as saying by the newspaper.

The highest fine for a data protection violation to date was imposed on H&M in October last year. The fashion retailer had to shell out a whopping 35.3 million euros for violating the DSVGO because employee data was stored. The company did not appeal and paid the sum.

Source: Handelsblatt