Hamburg, January 9 – Thomas Fuchs, Hamburg’s Data Protection Commissioner, announced a record number of complaints received in 2025, marking the highest figure since the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018. The total number of complaints rose by 62 percent compared to 2024, reaching 4,220, Fuchs stated.
Overall Cases See Significant Increase
In addition to the complaints, there were 2,509 submissions, bringing the total number of all cases from 4,571 in 2024 to 6,729 last year. This increase affected almost all sectors, including financial services and insurance, retail, healthcare, and housing. However, the most significant rise was observed in social networks and dating portals, where the number of complaints nearly tripled from 386 to 1,052.
Meta Platforms at the Center of Complaints
Complaints primarily focused on Meta-operated platforms, Facebook and Instagram, for which Fuchs is the lead federal commissioner. The grievances mainly concerned the processing of user data for AI training purposes, which Meta began in May 2025 as part of “Meta AI,” and Meta’s “Pay-or-Consent” model. Under this model, users can only avoid the processing of personal data for personalized advertising by purchasing a paid subscription.
AI Tools Facilitate Complaint Submissions
Numerous citizens also contacted the Data Protection Commissioner for assistance in enforcing their data subject rights, particularly the right to erasure and the right to access information regarding their accounts. One reason for the increase in complaints was the increased use of AI tools that provided information about data protection rights and facilitated the submission of complaints.
Data Breach Notifications Remain High
Alongside the complaints, there were 2,509 submissions last year. Nearly half of these (1,112) were so-called data breach notifications, which are legally mandated notifications to supervisory authorities and affected individuals in cases of personal data breaches. In 373 of these cases, cyberattacks were involved.
This significant rise in data protection complaints underscores a growing public awareness of data privacy rights and the increasing scrutiny of how personal data is handled by large tech companies and various sectors. The role of AI tools in empowering individuals to exercise their rights is also becoming increasingly evident.
The Data Protection Commissioner’s office continues to monitor these developments closely, particularly as digital transformation accelerates and new technologies like AI become more integrated into daily life. The focus remains on ensuring compliance with GDPR and protecting the fundamental right to data privacy for all citizens.
Source: aerzteblatt.de
