In the matter of the General Data Protection Regulation
DPC Complaint Reference:
IMI Reference:
In the matter of a complaint, lodged by with the Österreichische
Datenschutzbehörde (Austria DPA) 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 ON 12 MAY 2022)
Dated the 5th day of May 2023
Data Protection Commission
21 Fitzwilliam Square South
Dublin 2, Ireland
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Background
1. On 24 June 2021, (“the Data Subject”) represented by their legal representative
lodged a complaint pursuant to Article 77 of the GDPR with the Österreichische
Datenschutzbehörde (“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) of the GDPR, the Recipient SA transferred
the complaint to the DPC on 27 July 2021.
The Complaint
3. The details of the complaint were as follows:
a. On 24 March 2021 and 22 April 2021, the Data Subject made two separate requests
to the Respondent under Article 17 of the GDPR, requesting the erasure of personal
data concerning them in a blog post, that had been uploaded to the Respondent’s
Blogger platform by a third party user.
b. The Data Subject received generic automated responses from the Respondent; the
first reply dated, 24 March 2021 stated that the Respondent would reply only if the
request was found to be actionable, and the second reply dated, 24 April 2021
directed them to use another channel to raise their query.
c. As the Data Subject was not satisfied with the responses received from the
Respondent regarding the concern raised, the Data Subject 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:
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a. The relationship between the Data Subject and Respondent (being, in this case, an
individual consumer and a service provider); and
b. The nature of the complaint (in this case, an unsuccessful attempt by the Data Subject
to exercise his/her 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. Over the course of the handling of the complaint, the
DPC maintained regular contact with the Data Subject to keep them informed of the
progression and status of their complaint, and with the Respondent in order to bring about
an amicable resolution to the complaint.
8. Further to this engagement, on 7 November 2022, the Respondent agreed to restrict access
to the content in question within the EEA meaning that it was no longer visible on the Blogger
platform for users within the EEA.
9. On 13 November 2022, the DPC wrote to the Data Subject, via the Recipient SA, seeking their
views on the action taken by the Respondent and requesting that the Data Subject notify it,
within a specified timeframe, if they were not satisfied with the actions taken by the
Respondent, so that the DPC could take further action. The Recipient SA thereafter issued this
correspondence to the Data Subject on 15 November 2022. Subsequently, the Recipient SA
confirmed to the DPC, that no response has been received from the Data Subject.
10. On 3 January 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. On 16 January 2023, the Recipient SA confirmed receipt of the DPC
correspondence, which had advised that the complaint was deemed withdrawn.
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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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