Mass Damage Claims for GDPR Infringements: A Multi-Jurisdictional Perspective

This contribution discusses mass claims seeking non-material damages for data privacy infringements under Articles 80 and 82 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It contributes to the understanding of these provisions by offering a comparative perspective of how they were implemented in France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and the UK (collectively referred to in this article as 'covered jurisdictions'). The authors highlight the points of convergence and divergence regarding the implementation of Articles 80 and 82 GDPR in these jurisdictions and analyse the interaction between domestic regimes on collective actions and the GDPR. This article also offers initial thoughts on the interplay between the above-mentioned GDPR provisions on mass damage claims and the recently adopted Consumer Redress Directive, which includes the GDPR in the material scope of its application.