DPC Reports 45% Jump in Complaints to 16,160 in 2025, Issues €530M TikTok Fine

The Data Protection Commission (DPC) reported an «unprecedented» 45% increase in complaints in 2025, receiving 16,160 new cases from individuals. Many complainants used AI to assist them, contributing to the volume and complexity of documentation. The DPC concluded 11,734 cases last year, a 12% rise from 2024. Common issues included non-responses to personal information requests, concerns about personal data processing, and social media account issues.

Dr. Des Hogan, DPC Chairperson, noted the simultaneous increase in AI technologies' use of personal data, leading to heightened risks for individuals. The DPC also imposed a €530 million fine on TikTok for transferring European users' personal data to China, which TikTok is appealing. Since May 2018, the DPC has issued €4.04 billion in fines, with only about €20 million paid due to legal challenges.

Niamh Sweeney was appointed as a third Data Protection Commissioner in September. Due to her previous senior roles at WhatsApp and Facebook (Meta), Ms. Sweeney stated she would recuse herself from investigating any Meta matters that occurred between 2015 and 2021, the period she worked for the companies. She emphasized her statutory obligations under various legislation.

The DPC also published a «sharenting» survey, conducted with the French Data Protection Authority, involving over 1,000 parents in Ireland and France. It found that three out of four parents shared content about their children online in the past year, with one in three sharing daily or several times a week. 40% of parents rarely or never sought their children's consent. In Ireland, 66% of parents feared image misuse by strangers, and 55% worried about AI and deepfakes. One in ten parents in both countries regretted sharing content.