Acxiom files lawsuit against German DPA to block access to GDPR violation case files

Privacy watchdog noyb battles address trader Acxiom and credit agency CRIF over alleged GDPR violations. When noyb sought access to case files, Acxiom swiftly filed an interim injunction to block access, further delaying the case decision.

Wood, Hardwood, Stained Wood

In a longstanding legal dispute that spanned two years, the privacy advocacy organisation noyb filed a lawsuit against Acxiom, an entity involved in trading addresses, and the credit reference agency CRIF, operating in Germany. Their alleged transgressions relate to substantial transactions of individuals’ personal data and a potential infringement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Despite substantial evidence reinforcing these allegations, the case remains unresolved under Bavarian and Hessian Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) jurisdiction. To access the case records linked to the complaint against Acxiom, noyb sought these documents from the Hessian DPA. This action quickly triggered a response from Acxiom, who promptly lodged an interim restraining order against the DPA to prevent access to the files.

Why does it matter?

Essentially, the continuous utilisation of personal data without the users’ consent could lead to potential GDPR violations. Therefore, if an interim injunction is granted, not only would the case, but potential privacy violations could occur while also putting in question noyb’s right to a fair hearing.