Ireland Sees Unprecedented Rise in GDPR Complaints
The Data Protection Commission (DPC) reported a significant increase in complaints last year, describing the rise as “unprecedented.” In 2025, the DPC received 16,160 new cases from individuals, marking a 45% jump compared to previous years. Many of these complaints involved the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by complainants, which added to the volume and complexity of the cases. The number of complaints is expected to rise further in 2026, potentially exceeding 20,000.
Despite the surge in complaints, the DPC managed to conclude 11,734 cases in 2025, a 12% increase from 2024. The most common issues raised included non-responses to requests for personal information, concerns about the processing of personal data, and problems related to social media accounts. However, many social media-related issues fell outside the DPC’s jurisdiction. Dr. Des Hogan, Chairperson and Commissioner for Data Protection, highlighted that the rapid advancement of AI technologies has increased the risks and harms associated with personal data processing.
In September 2025, Niamh Sweeney was appointed as a third Data Protection Commissioner. Ms. Sweeney previously held senior roles at Meta, including at WhatsApp and Facebook. Due to concerns raised by privacy groups about potential conflicts of interest, she has committed to recusing herself from any investigations related to Meta activities during her tenure at the company from 2015 to 2021. She emphasized her adherence to statutory obligations and ethical standards governing her role.
The DPC also imposed its largest fine last year, issuing a €530 million penalty against TikTok for transferring European users’ personal data to China. TikTok is currently appealing the decision. Since May 2018, the DPC has issued fines totaling over €4 billion, but only about €20 million has been collected due to ongoing legal challenges. Additionally, the DPC released a survey on “sharenting,” revealing that many parents share content about their children online without always seeking consent, raising concerns about privacy and the misuse of images through AI and deepfakes.
