In total 2,585 complaints were examined and fines totaling €1.56 million were imposed within six years since the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection and Deputy Chair of the European Data Protection Board, Irene Loizidou Nikolaidou said on Friday.

According to a statement from the Commissioner's office, May 25, 2024, marks six years since the implementation of the GDPR, which was established, “primarily with the aim of the uniform application of data protection rules throughout the European Economic Area but also to further strengthen citizens’ rights.”

In these six years, the Commissioner said, her office handled 2,585 complaints, 746 of which concerned unsolicited advertising messages, 494 notification of infringement incidents and 112 impact assessments, while 506 checks were carried out and 299 Decisions were issued. In addition, administrative fines totaling €1.56 million were imposed.

She also said that the Office of the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection was consulted on 261 bills and lew proposals related to matters of personal data.

It also noted that, May 25, 2024, marks one year since Loizidou’s election as Deputy Chair of the European Data Protection Board.