Tim van Canneyt writes:
Belgium has long been one of the less active of the EU member states in terms of data protection enforcement. Aside from the fact that pragmatism can be considered part of a Belgian’s nature, this view was also due to the fact that the Belgian Data Protection Authority (DPA), the Privacy Commission, could justifiably be termed as a so-called “toothless tiger.”
[…]
In a recent interview with Belgian newspaper De Morgen, State Secretary for Privacy Bart Tommelein confirmed that the Privacy Commission will be vested with fining powers, if possible by the end of this year. Tommelein did not yet want to comment on the extent of the fining power they are to be given, but Privacy Commission President Willem Debeuckelaere mooted fines between 250 and 20,000 euro, akin to those that can be imposed by Belgian energy and telecom regulators.
This announcement is the latest in a series of recent events that demonstrate that Belgium is strengthening its stance with regard to data protection enforcement.
Read more on FieldFisher Privacy and Information Law Blog.