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 Comissão Nacional de
Proteção de Dados pursuant to Article 77 of the General Data Protection Regulation, concerning
Google 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 11th day of December 2023
Data Protection Commission
21 Fitzwilliam Square South
Dublin 2, Ireland
1
Background
1. (“the Data Subject”) lodged a complaint pursuant to Article 77 GDPR
with the Comissão Nacional de Proteção de Dados (“the Recipient SA”) concerning Google
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 6 March 2023.
The Complaint
3. The details of the complaint were as follows:
a. The Data Subject submitted an access request pursuant to Article 15 GDPR whereby
they specifically sought personal information relating to YouTube copyright takedown
requests they had made.
b. The Data Subject corresponded with a number of different copyright and legal
support-related email channels in relation to their request. The Data Subject was
ultimately informed by the Respondent’s ‘Legal Investigations Support’ team that it
was not in a position to respond to such a request and the Data Subject was directed
to a number of links and articles for further information.
c. The Data Subject was dissatisfied with the response and, accordingly, lodged a
complaint with the Recipient SA.
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
2
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. On 4 May 2023, the DPC wrote to the Respondent
formally commencing its investigation and requesting it address the concerns raised.
8. In response, the Respondent explained that it had since reached out to the Data Subject
directly in order to facilitate them in obtaining access to the specific information identified in
their request. The Respondent provided the DPC with a copy of this response, which the DPC
considered to be comprehensive and sufficient to address the specific request made by the
Data Subject.
9. In light of the direct response provided by the Respondent as set out above, the DPC
considered it appropriate to conclude the complaint by way of amicable resolution. As such,
on 6 June 2023, the DPC wrote to the Data Subject (via the Recipient SA) proposing an
amicable resolution to the complaint on the basis of the foregoing. The DPC asked the Data
Subject to notify it, within a specified timeframe, if they were not satisfied with the outcome,
so that the DPC could take further action. The Recipient SA confirmed that this letter issued
to the Data Subject on 8 August 2023. The DPC did not receive any further communication
from the Data Subject or the Recipient SA and, accordingly, the complaint has been deemed
to have been amicably resolved.
10. On 8 November 2023, 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.
3
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
4