Home / Technology / GDPR Fines Hit €1.2 Billion as Breaches Surge
GDPR Fines Hit €1.2 Billion as Breaches Surge
23 Jan
Summary
- GDPR fines totaling €1.2 billion were issued in 2025.
- Personal data breach reports increased by 22% year-over-year.
- Ireland issued the largest GDPR fine of 2025, hitting TikTok.
In 2025, European regulators levied over €1.2 billion in fines related to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This figure represents a modest rise compared to the previous year, even as personal data breach notifications saw a substantial 22% increase. Authorities reported an average of 443 breach notifications daily, marking a new high since GDPR's inception.
Multiple factors are attributed to this surge, including heightened geopolitical tensions, advanced cyberattack capabilities, and the introduction of new regulations. Ireland emerged as the most active enforcer, issuing the year's largest GDPR fine of €530 million to TikTok and holding the record for the highest-ever GDPR penalty against Meta in 2023.
Enforcement efforts predominantly targeted large technology companies, which accounted for nine of the ten largest GDPR fines ever issued. Regulators remain focused on information security, international data transfers, transparency, and the regulatory landscape surrounding AI.
