Request for a preliminary ruling from the Augstākā tiesa (Senāts) (Latvia) lodged on 8 August 2023 – A v Patērētāju tiesību aizsardzības centrs

(Case C-507/23, Patērētāju tiesību aizsardzības centrs)

Language of the case: Latvian

Referring court

Augstākā tiesa (Senāts)

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant at first instance and appellant: A

Defendant at first instance and respondent: Patērētāju tiesību aizsardzības centrs

Questions referred

Must Article 82(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation ¹ be interpreted as meaning that the unlawful processing of personal data, in so far as it is an infringement of that regulation, may, in itself, constitute unjustified interference with a person’s subjective right to the protection of his or her data and damage caused to that person?

Must Article 82(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation be interpreted as meaning that, where there is no possibility of restoring the situation that existed before the damage was caused, it permits the imposition of the obligation to apologise as the sole form of compensation for non-material damage?

Must Article 82(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation be interpreted as meaning that it permits a smaller amount of compensation for the damage caused to be set on the basis of circumstances that are indicative of the attitude and motivation of the person processing the data (for example, the need to perform a task carried out in the public interest, the lack of intent to cause damage to the person concerned or difficulties in understanding the legal framework)?

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¹     Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (OJ 2016 L 119, p. 1).