In the matter of the General Data Protection Regulation
DPC Complaint Reference:
IMI Complaint Reference Number:
In the matter of a complaint, lodged by with the French Data Protection Authority
pursuant to Article 77 of the General Data Protection Regulation, concerning Meta Platforms
Ireland Limited
Record of Amicable Resolution of the complaint and its consequent withdrawal pursuant to
Section 109(3) of the Data Protection Act, 2018
Further to the requirements of EDPB Guidelines 06/2022 on the practical implementation of
amicable settlements Version 2.0 (adopted on 12 May 2022)
RECORD OF AMICABLE RESOLUTION FOR THE
PURPOSE OF EDPB GUIDELINES 06/2022 ON THE
PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF AMICABLE
SETTLEMENTS VERSION 2.0, ADOPTED 12 MAY 2022
Dated the 18th day of November 2022
Data Protection Commission
21 Fitzwilliam Square South
Dublin 2, Ireland
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Background
1. On 14 October 2021, (“the Data Subject”) lodged a complaint pursuant to Article
77 GDPR with the French Data Protection Authority (“the Recipient SA”) concerning Meta
Platforms Ireland Limited (“the Respondent”).
2. In circumstances where the Data Protection Commission (“the DPC”) was deemed to be the
competent authority for the purpose of Article 56(1) GDPR, the Recipient SA transferred the
complaint to the DPC on 16 November 2021.
The Complaint
3. The details of the complaint were as follows:
a. The Data Subject submitted an access request directly to the Respondent on 3 July
2021, requesting a copy of their personal data.
b. The Data Subject asserted that they could no longer access their personal data
through the Respondent’s self-service tools, as they were being redirected to an
identity verification window upon login. The Data Subject stated that they were
experiencing technical difficulties with verifying their identity and that the
Respondent had informed them that their account was temporarily suspended. The
Data Subject was not satisfied with the Respondent’s response.
Action taken by the DPC
4. The DPC, pursuant to Section 109(4) of the Data Protection Act, 2018 (“the 2018 Act”), is
required, as a preliminary matter, to assess the likelihood of the parties to the complaint
reaching, within a reasonable time, an amicable resolution of the subject-matter of the
complaint. Where the DPC considers that there is a reasonable likelihood of such an amicable
resolution being concluded between the parties, it is empowered, by Section 109(2) of the
2018 Act, to take such steps as it considers appropriate to arrange or facilitate such an
amicable resolution.
5. Following a preliminary examination of the material referred to it by the Recipient SA, the DPC
considered that there was a reasonable likelihood of the parties concerned reaching, within a
reasonable time, an amicable resolution of the subject matter of the complaint. The DPC’s
experience is that complaints of this nature are particularly suitable for amicable resolution in
circumstances where there is an obvious solution to the dispute, if the respondent is willing
to engage in the process. In this regard, the DPC had regard to:
a. The relationship between the Data Subject and Respondent (being, in this case, an
individual consumer and a service provider); and
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b. The nature of the complaint (in this case, an unsuccessful attempt by the Data Subject
to exercise their data subject rights).
6. While not relevant to the assessment that the DPC is required to carry out pursuant to Section
109(4) of the 2018 Act, the DPC also had regard to EDPB Guidelines 06/2022 on the practical
implementation of amicable settlements Version 2.0, adopted on 12 May 2022 (“Document
06/2022”), and considered that:
a. the possible conclusion of the complaint by way of amicable resolution would not
hamper the ability of the supervisory authorities to maintain the high level of
protection that the GDPR seeks to create; and that
b. such a conclusion, in this case, would likely carry advantages for the Data Subject,
whose rights under the GDPR would be vindicated swiftly, as well as for the controller,
who would be provided the opportunity to bring its behaviour into compliance with
the GDPR.
Amicable Resolution
7. The DPC engaged with both the Data Subject (via the Recipient SA) and Respondent in relation
to the subject matter of the complaint. Further to that engagement, it was established that
the Data Subject’s account was active again, and that they could now access their personal
data through the Respondent’s self-service tools. In the circumstances, the Respondent took
the following action:
a. The Respondent wrote to the Data Subject directly, confirming that their account was
active.
b. The Respondent provided instructions to the Data Subject on how they could access
their data using the Respondent’s self-service tools.
8. On 7 February 2022, the DPC outlined the Data Subject’s complaint to the Respondent,
providing it with a copy of the correspondence exchanged between the Data Subject and the
Respondent. The DPC noted the Data Subject indicated that they could usually access their
personal data using the Respondent’s self-service tools, but that on this occasion, they were
being redirected to an identity verification window upon login. On 2 March 2022, the
Respondent responded to the DPC and confirmed it had communicated directly with the Data
Subject on the same date, informing them that their account was now active. The Respondent
also provided instructions to the Data Subject on how they could access their data using the
Respondent’s self-service tools.
9. On 20 April 2022, the DPC wrote to the Data Subject outlining the information provided by
the Respondent. In the circumstances, the DPC asked the Data Subject to notify it, within 2
months, if they were not satisfied with the outcome, so that the DPC could take further action.
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The DPC did not receive any further communication from the Data Subject, and, accordingly,
the complaint has been deemed to have been amicably resolved.
10. On 14 September 2022, and in light of the foregoing, the DPC wrote to the Recipient SA noting
that the DPC considered the complaint to have been amicably resolved and withdrawn in
accordance with section 109(3) of the Act and that it would conclude the case and inform the
Respondent.
11. In circumstances where the subject-matter of the complaint has been amicably resolved, in
full, the complaint, by virtue of Section 109(3) of the 2018 Act, is deemed to have been
withdrawn by the Data Subject.
Confirmation of Outcome
12. For the purpose of Document 06/2022, the DPC confirms that:
a. The complaint, in its entirety, has been amicably resolved between the parties
concerned;
b. The agreed resolution is such that the object of the complaint no longer exists; and
c. Having consulted with the supervisory authorities concerned on the information set
out above, as required by Document 06/2022 the DPC has now closed off its file in
this matter.
13. If dissatisfied with the outcome recorded herein, the parties have the right to an effective
remedy by way of an application for judicial review, by the Irish High Court, of the process
applied by the DPC in the context of the within complaint.
Signed for and on behalf of the DPC:
_____________________________
Deputy Commissioner
Data Protection Commission
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