Get up to €1,500 compensation for Data Breaches

Intro

A privacy breach is the unauthorized access, acquisition, disclosure, or use of sensitive and confidential information that is intended to be kept private. Data privacy is enshrined in rules and protections both offline and online. Confidentiality is your right. 

A privacy breach can have severe consequences surprising you out of nowhere. This can range from constantly being hammered by spam and scams to financial losses, slander, identity theft, reputation damage, legal problems, and your other accounts and devices being compromised.

And it’s not just hackers or accidents that can cause privacy breaches; organizations or media platforms you have trusted with your data may misuse your personal information as well. If their actions constitute a privacy leak without your consent, then even big corporations can be penalized for it.

Key Takeaways:

• A privacy breach refers to the unauthorized access to your protected data.
• Personal information can be gathered maliciously from a cyberattack.
• Personal information can be collected and unlawfully shared by companies.
• Whether you were affected or are just exploring options, you can check your eligibility for compensation.

Privacy Breach Protection

The principles of data privacy (using the GPDR as an example) are:

Purpose Limitation: Companies should be clear about why they collect personal data and only use it for those stated reasons.

Fairness, Lawfulness, and Transparency: Companies should treat people’s data fairly, follow the law, and be open about how they use gathered information.

Data Minimization: Companies are obliged to only collect the data they need for a specific purpose.

Storage Limitation: Companies should only keep personal data for as long as necessary and securely get rid of it once it’s no longer needed.

Accuracy: Companies need to make sure the personal data they have is correct and fix any mistakes promptly.

Confidentiality and Integrity: Companies should safeguard personal data from unauthorized access, changes, or destruction.

Accountability: Companies are required to show that they follow the rules by keeping records, doing necessary assessments, and working with data protection authorities.

The NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) provides the Privacy Framework as a voluntary tool to help organizations identify and manage privacy risks. Failure on any of these points can mean an unlawful privacy breach. You should always be notified as soon as possible if your private information has been breached, so you can take measures to secure your accounts and data.

Your privacy is protected by laws and agencies all over the world. Here are some that can hold even large corporations accountable for breaches of privacy:

European Union (EU)

Organization: European Data Protection Board (EDPB)

• Relevant Law: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• Description: The GDPR ensures consistent data protection rules across the EU, safeguarding individuals’ privacy rights.

United Kingdom

Organization: Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

• Relevant Law: Data Protection Act 2018 (incorporating the GDPR in the UK)
• Description: The Data Protection Act 2018 integrates provisions of the GDPR to regulate personal data processing in the UK, protecting privacy rights.

Canada

Organization: Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC):

• Relevant Law: Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
• Description: The PIPEDA governs private-sector data handling in Canada, balancing privacy with business needs.

Jurisdiction: Australia

Organization: Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC):

• Law: Privacy Act 1988
• Description: The Privacy Act 1988 oversees personal data handling in Australia, emphasizing transparency and privacy protection.

Switzerland

Organization: Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC):

• Relevant Law: Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP)
• Description: The FADP ensures fair personal data treatment in Switzerland, granting individuals control over their information.

Singapore

Organization: Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC):

• Relevant Law: Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA)
• Description: The PDPA regulates data processing in Singapore, empowering individuals and encouraging responsible data practices.

United States

Organization: Federal Trade Commission (FTC):

• Relevant Law: Various, including the COPPA and the HITECH Act
• Description: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces privacy-related laws in the United States, including the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act). Together with key FTC Acts, these laws protect consumers from deceptive and unfair practices.

Organization: Attorney General’s Office:

• Relevant Law: Various, including CCPA and CDPA
• Description: As the US does not yet have a comprehensive federal-level general privacy law like the GPDR, State Attorney General’s Offices enforce privacy laws like the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) and the CDPA (Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act), giving individuals control over their data.

Hong Kong

Organization: Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD):

• Relevant Law: Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance
• Description: The Ordinance in Hong Kong regulates personal data processing, ensuring fair treatment and privacy protection.

New Zealand

Organization: Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC):

• Relevant Law: Privacy Act 1993
• Description: The Privacy Act 1993 in New Zealand promotes privacy rights and transparent data handling.

China

Organization: Data Protection Authority (DPA): Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC)

• Relevant Law: Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL), Cybersecurity Law (CSL)
• Description: The PIPL and the CSL in China regulate personal data and cybersecurity, imposing obligations on organizations.

Is there any compensation for privacy breaches?

It’s common for large-scale Privacy Breach Protection to result in compensation for affected individuals. The exact privacy breach settlement amount may vary based on factors like the user’s location and the extent of the data breach.

Data Breach vs. Others

Privacy Breach Protection is known by various names, which can make things confusing. Some of these names mean the same thing, while others are a bit different. We explain and compare these terms below.

Data breach compensation

In today’s interconnected world, data breaches have become an increasingly common occurrence, exposing sensitive personal information to potential harm. While companies are responsible for safeguarding user data, individuals may be entitled to compensation if their personal information is compromised in a data breach. Whether you have been directly impacted or are simply seeking more information, this guide will equip you with the knowledge you need to understand your rights and explore potential avenues for compensation.

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Data breach prevention

In today’s digital world, data breaches have become increasingly common, posing a significant threat to individuals’ personal information. While businesses bear the responsibility of safeguarding user data, individuals can take proactive steps to protect themselves and minimize the impact of data breaches.

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What to do after data breach?

Data breaches are becoming increasingly common, and they can have a devastating impact on our lives. When our personal information is compromised, we may be at risk of identity theft, fraud, and other financial losses. It’s important to know what to do if you’re affected by a data breach.

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Data breach checker

With major data breaches increasingly common, checking whether your personal information appears in stolen data dumps circulating online has become critical. Data breach checker tools let you conveniently search billions of compromised identities to uncover if your emails, passwords or other sensitive details were exposed unknowingly.

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This password appeared in a data leak

Many major online platforms like Apple, Google and Microsoft now automatically check users’ passwords against databases of credentials leaked on the dark web. If your password appears in one of these compromised data dumps, companies will proactively send alerts urging users to change it.

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Data breach notice

Data breaches exposing consumers’ personal information are an unfortunate reality today. When a breach occurs, companies are required to provide notice to affected individuals within a certain timeframe. Receiving a data breach notice means your information was likely compromised.

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Data Breach Discovery

Imagine the shock of realizing your personal information has been exposed in a data breach. But before you can even begin to react, the wheels are already in motion. A complex, often hidden, process unfolds as the breach is discovered, investigated, and contained.

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Data breach vs data loss

Data leak and data loss are sometimes used interchangeably, with Data Loss Prevention Tools (DLP) being more about preventing data leaks.  If you imagine Data Breach as someone breaking down your door, Data Leak as you leave that door open or someone peeping through the window, Data Loss is just outright theft or burning the room down. Technically speaking, if you still have your data it is not lost but can still be stolen.  For other forms of data hacks, at least you have your own local copy of your data. With data loss, you have to deal with the destruction of your data. Grieve if you didn’t have a backup.

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Data breach vs data leak

Data breaches and data leaks are related but different concepts. If you think of your data as being protected behind a door, a data breach is about getting past that door while a leak is revealing or using what was previously private.

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Data leak definition

A data leak is where your private info goes where it shouldn’t. This could be intentional due to a security breach, or it being exposed elsewhere by other people. It can also involve data that might otherwise be public but harvested and compiled into a database, and releasing them can still be damaging.

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Privacy Breach Protection

A privacy breach is the unauthorized access, acquisition, disclosure, or use of sensitive and confidential information that is intended to be kept private. Data privacy is enshrined in rules and protections both offline and online. Confidentiality is your right.  A privacy breach can have severe consequences surprising you out of nowhere. This can range from constantly being hammered by spam and scams – to financial losses, slander, identity theft, reputation damage, legal problems, and your other accounts and devices being compromised.

LEARN MORE

Data Breach

Imagine a door with your important documents behind it. A data breach means unauthorized individuals gain access to the sensitive and protected data behind that door. This could include your real name, true location, personal details, financial information, private and intimate content, trade secrets, etc. But it doesn’t matter how they get past that door – as soon as that info is seen by someone not supposed to see it, the breach is done.

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Data Breach Examples

Check out these real-world examples to get a more practical understanding of how data breaches work and what we can learn from these examples. 

Deezer Data Breach 

Do you have Deezer? 🔥 Then you could be affected by Facebook data leak 👉 Get up to €500 in settlement payout ✅ Check eligibility with our Calculator ➡️

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Essure Lawsuit: Compensation for Affected Women 

Do you have Deezer? 🔥 Then you could be affected by Facebook data leak 👉 Get up to €500 in settlement payout ✅ Check eligibility with our Calculator ➡️

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Johnson & Johnson – Talc Powder Case 

Do you have Deezer? 🔥 Then you could be affected by Facebook data leak 👉 Get up to €500 in settlement payout ✅ Check eligibility with our Calculator ➡️

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Avast Privacy Breach

Do you have Avast antivirus? 🔥 Then you may have been affected by a data breach 👉 Get a settlement ✅ Check your claim with our claim calculator ➡️

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APPLE Data Breach

Do you have Apple? 🔥 Then you could be affected by Apple data leak 👉 Get compensation ✅ Check eligibility with our calculator ➡️

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Amazon Data Breach

Do you have Amazon? 🔥 Then you could be affected by Amazon data leak 👉 Get compensation ✅ Check eligibility with our calculator ➡️

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H&M Data Breach

Do you have H&M? 🔥 Then you could be affected by H&M data leak 👉 Get compensation ✅ Check eligibility with our calculator ➡️

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Twitch Data Breach

Do you have Twitch? 🔥 Then you could be affected by Twitchdata leak 👉 Get compensation ✅ Check eligibility with our Data Breach Checker ➡️

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Dropbox Data Breach

Do you have Dropbox? 🔥 Then you could be affected by Dropbox data leak 👉 Get compensation ✅ Check eligibility with our calculator ➡️

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Adobe Data Breach

Do you have Adobe Creative Cloud? 🔥 Then you could be affected by Adobe data leak 👉 Get compensation ✅ Check eligibility with our calculator ➡️

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eBay Data Breach

Do you have eBay? 🔥 Then you could be affected by eBay data leak 👉 Get compensation ✅ Check eligibility with our calculator ➡️

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Yahoo Data Breach

Do you have Yahoo? 🔥 Then you could be affected by Yahoo data leak 👉 Get compensation ✅ Check eligibility with our calculator ➡️

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Marriott Data Breach

Do you know the Marriott? 🔥 Then you could be affected by Marriot data leak 👉 Get compensation ✅ Check eligibility with our Calculator ➡️

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Facebook Data Breach

Do you have Facebook? 🔥 Then you could be affected by Facebook data leak 👉 Get up to €500 in settlement payout ✅ Check eligibility with our Calculator ➡️

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Google Data Breach

Do you use Google? 🔥 Then you could be affected by Google data leak 👉 Get compensation ✅ Check eligibility with our calculator ➡️

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WhatsApp Data Breach

Do you have WhatsApp? 🔥 Then you could be affected by WhatsApp data leak 👉 Get up to €500 in settlement payout ✅ Check eligibility with our calculator ➡️

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Uber Data Breach

Do you have Uber? 🔥 Then you could be affected by Uber data leak 👉 Get compensation ✅ Check eligibility with our calculator ➡️

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Twitter Data Breach

Do you have Twitter/X? 🔥 Then you could be affected by Twitter/X data leak 👉 Get compensation ✅ Check eligibility with our calculator ➡️

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TikTok Data Breach

Do you have TikTok? 🔥 Then you could be affected by TikTok data leak 👉 Get up to €500 in settlement payout ✅ Check eligibility with our calculator ➡️

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T-Mobile Data Breach

Do you have T-Mobile? 🔥 Then you could be affected by T-Mobile data leak 👉 Get compensation ✅ Check eligibility with our calculator ➡️

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Spotify Data Breach

Do you have Spotify? 🔥 Then you could be affected by Spotify data leak 👉 Get compensation ✅ Check eligibility with our calculator ➡️

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Sony Data Breach

Do you have Sony? 🔥 Then you could be affected by Sony data leak 👉 Get compensation ✅ Check eligibility with our calculator ➡️

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Instagram Data Breach

Do you have Instagram? 🔥 Then you could be affected by Instagram data leak 👉 Get up to €500 in settlement payout ✅ Check eligibility with our calculator ➡️

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LinkedIn Data Breach

Do you have LinkedIn? 🔥 Then you could be affected by LinkedIn data leak 👉 Get compensation ✅ Check eligibility with our calculator ➡️

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Conclusion

In summary, privacy breaches happen when someone gains access to or uses your provided personal information without your permission. This can happen through action by hackers, company misuse, or even accidentally through human or system error. The consequences can be severe, ranging from annoying spam to serious financial, legal, and reputation problems.

Laws and regulations like the GPDR and the NIST Privacy Framework exist to protect your privacy and hold even large corporations accountable if they mess up. If you think you’ve been a victim of an unauthorized privacy breach, check to see if you may be eligible for compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Frequently asked Questions | NIST [Internet]. NIST. 2021. Available from: https://www.nist.gov/privacy-framework/frequently-asked-questions
2. Data protection and privacy laws | Identification for Development [Internet]. Available from: https://id4d.worldbank.org/guide/data-protection-and-privacy-laws
3. Privacy & Security | Identification for Development [Internet]. Available from: https://id4d.worldbank.org/guide/privacy-security
4. Wolford B. What is GDPR, the EU’s new data protection law? [Internet]. GDPR.eu. 2023. Available from: https://gdpr.eu/what-is-gdpr/
5. Frequently asked Questions | NIST [Internet]. NIST. 2021. Available from: https://www.nist.gov/privacy-framework/frequently-asked-questions