Data protection: Netflix receives a heavy fine

The Dutch Data Protection Authority announced on Wednesday that it had imposed a fine of 4.75 million euros on the American Netflix for not having sufficiently informed its customers of what it was doing with their personal data.

“Between 2018 and 2020, Netflix did not give its customers enough information about what the company does with their personal data. And the information provided by Netflix was unclear in some respects,” the authority said in a statement.

“The Dutch Data Protection Authority (PA) therefore imposes a fine of 4.75 million euros on the streaming service,” she continued.

The AP noted, however, that Netflix has since updated its privacy statement and improved its disclosures to subscribers about data usage. Netflix appealed the fine, according to the AP.

“Such a company, with a turnover of several billions and millions of customers around the world, must properly explain to its customers how it processes their personal data,” AP President Aleid Wolfsen was quoted as saying in the press release.

“This must be perfectly clear. Especially if the customer asks for it,” he added.

Lack of clarity

Netflix collects different types of personal data from customers, such as email address, phone number and payment details, but also data on what customers watch on the platform and when, the company said. ‘AP.

The AP said Netflix lacked clarity or provided insufficient information in several areas.

She claimed that Netflix had not been clear about why it collected personal data, what data was shared with other parties, how long the data was retained and how the data was kept secure when they were transmitted outside Europe.

“Latest news”

Want to stay on top of the news? “Tribune de Genève” offers you two meetings per day, directly in your email box. So you don’t miss anything that’s happening in your canton, in Switzerland or around the world.

Other newsletters

Log in

AFP

Did you find an error? Please report it to us.

0 comments