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 Hungarian National Authority for Data
Protection and Freedom of Information pursuant to Article 77 of the General Data Protection
Regulation, concerning LinkedIn Ireland UC
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 25th day of March 2024
Data Protection Commission
21 Fitzwilliam Square South
Dublin 2, Ireland
1
Background
1. On 26 February 2023, (“the Data Subject”) lodged a complaint pursuant to
Article 77 GDPR with Hungarian National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of
Information (“the Recipient SA”) concerning LinkedIn Ireland UC (“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 12 May 2023.
The Complaint
3. The details of the complaint were as follows:
a. The Data Subject made an access request in order to regain access to their account. A
temporary restriction had been placed on the account due to the Respondent’s
detection of a suspected unauthorized access.
b. In order to regain access to their account and have the restriction lifted, the Data
Subject was asked to provide documentation to verify their identity. The Data Subject
was dissatisfied with this 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
b. The nature of the complaint in this case, an unsuccessful attempt by the Data Subject
to exercise their data subject rights.
2
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 17 August 2023, the DPC wrote to the Respondent
formally commencing its investigation and requesting that it address the concerns raised.
8. In response, the Respondent explained that the Data Subject’s account was flagged for
suspicious activity when it detected that login attempts had been made from a different
country than where the Data Subject was presumed to reside. The Respondent also explained
how the risk factors identified gave rise to concerns regarding the security of the profile,
therefore, the data subject was asked to provide identification in order to verify themselves
and regain access to the account. The Respondent further explained that the Data Subject did
not provide the required documentation at the time of the access request and so, in light of
the risk factors identified, the Respondent declined to act on the access request. However,
following the DPC’s intervention, the Respondent agreed to facilitate the Data Subject in
regaining full access to their data and account.
9. In light of the explanations provided by the Respondent as outlined above, and its
confirmation that the Data Subject had successfully regained access to their account, the DPC
considered it appropriate to conclude the complaint by way of amicable resolution. On 21
November 2023, the DPC wrote to the Data Subject (via the Recipient SA) outlining the
Respondent’s response to its investigation. In the circumstances, the DPC asked the Data
Subject to notify it, within a specific timeframe, if they were not satisfied with the outcome,
so that the DPC could take further action. 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 12 February 2024, 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