BA data breach fine set to be record high of £183m

The BA data breach fine that the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is set to issue will be a record high of £183m.

The level of the fines reflects the severity of this breach that resulted in hundreds of thousands of people’s information being compromised. It will be the biggest financial penalty that the ICO has ever issue as part of the new GDPR rules that came into force last year.

We’ve been representing a number of people who are claiming for data breach compensation as victims of the incidents. If you’ve yet to start your No Win, No Fee legal case, you can sign-up here.

About the BA data breach fine

The BA data breach fine that’s set to be issued will be the highest ever applied since GDPR came into force in May 2018.

Fines can now amount to up to 4% of a company’s global annual turnover, and in the British Airways case, the £183m is understood to be 1.5% of their 2017 global turnover.

The level of the fine reflects the severity of this breach and the impact that it has had on the many people who are claiming compensation as part of the pending group action. The fine and the legal case are two separate things, although the extent of the fine is helpful in terms of highlighting the severity of the breaches.

About the action for compensation

We’ve been representing people claiming for compensation since news of the scandal broke back in September last year.

The money from the BA data breach fine is not usually used for compensation for victims. That’s why we have the legal case against British Airways for damages for the loss of control of personal information, and for any financial losses suffered.

The case acts as further punishment for BA, and it ensures that victims can be entitled to damages for the impact the breach has had on them.

Reaction to the BA data breach fine

Speaking about the BA data breach fine, Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said:

“People’s personal data is just that – personal. When an organisation fails to protect it from loss, damage or theft, it is more than an inconvenience. That’s why the law is clear – when you are entrusted with personal data, you must look after it. Those that don’t will face scrutiny from my office to check they have taken appropriate steps to protect fundamental privacy rights.”

It’s understood that BA is considering an appeal the provisional decision, and airline owner IAG is said to be “surprised and disappointed” by the current ruling.

Joining the action for justice

Make sure you sign-up for a No Win, No Fee legal case to join the action for justice here.

If you’re eligible to start a case, we can get your claim set up and moving forward right away.