The Austrian Federal Administrative Court has fined IKEA 1.5 million euros for non-compliant video surveillance. The reason was the monitoring of PIN entries and public areas.
The Austrian Federal Administrative Court has upheld a fine of 1.5 million euros against IKEA. The issue is unauthorized video surveillance at a Vienna store. Between March 25 and May 23, 2022, cameras filmed PIN entries at the checkout, among other things. IKEA plans to appeal the ruling, as stated in a press release. What impact does this case have on Germany?
Court Ruling and Data Privacy Conflict
In spring 2022, IKEA installed several cameras to monitor entrance and checkout areas. An anonymous tip led to investigations by the data protection authority. Some cameras filmed public areas, which violates the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This regulation states that only as much should be filmed as is necessary for the specific purpose.
Particularly problematic was the recording of PIN entries at the checkouts. According to the ruling, this is impermissible as it involves sensitive data. The court classified the surveillance as “grossly negligent.” Such surveillance would also be illegal in Germany, according to attorney Christian Solmecke in a statement to “COMPUTER BILD.”
Meta Lawsuit Could Bring Users Thousands of Euros
New Dispute Over Internet Surveillance Ignites
IKEA’s Reactions and Legal Consequences
IKEA acknowledges that there was a “misconfiguration” of individual cameras in 2022. After the anonymous tip, the systems were reviewed and adjusted. Christina Strauss from IKEA Austria emphasizes that no individuals were identifiable. IKEA considers the fine excessive.
However, the court confirmed 28 out of 30 violations. The maximum fine could have been 1.8 billion euros. IKEA plans to appeal to the Administrative Court. This court will examine whether national data protection regulations are inapplicable and how the fine should be assessed.
Impact on Germany and Customer Rights
The ruling from Austria is not yet legally binding but could have implications for Germany. IKEA has reviewed all Austrian locations and tightened its internal control system. Regular compliance checks are intended to ensure that surveillance systems operate legally.
Customers should be informed about video surveillance through clear signage before entering the monitored area. Those who were unlawfully monitored can report this to the state data protection authorities. IKEA Germany assures “COMPUTER BILD” that the cameras are set up so that the area for PIN entry is pixelated.