出海歐洲 | 認識意大利Garante——歐盟最活躍的數據保護機構之一

在歐盟《通用數據保護條例》（GDPR）的嚴格框架下，各國的數據保護機構（DPA）扮演著至關重要的角色。其中，意大利數據保護局（Garante per la protezione dei dati personali，簡稱Garante）以其積極的執法行動和對數據保護原則的堅定維護，成為歐盟內最活躍、最具影響力的機構之一。對於在中國出海歐盟的企業而言，深入了解Garante的運作模式、執法重點及典型案例，是確保合規、規避風險的關鍵。

2025年5月，Garante對意大利高速公路公司Autostrade per l’Italia Spa處以42萬歐元的罰款。此案源於一名員工的投訴，該公司在紀律處分程序中，未經授權使用了從該員工Facebook個人資料以及Messenger和WhatsApp私人聊天中提取的內容。Garante裁定，該公司對個人數據的處理違反了GDPR第5條（數據處理原則）、第6條（處理的合法性）和第88條（雇傭背景下的數據處理）以及意大利數據保護法第113條。

案例啟示：此案強調了Garante對員工數據隱私的重視。即使是公開可訪問的社交媒體信息，企業也無權隨意用於與員工紀律處分相關的目的。企業在處理員工個人數據時，必須嚴格遵循合法性、目的限制和數據最小化原則，並確保有充分的法律依據。

2020年1月，Garante對意大利電信公司TIM處以高達2780萬歐元的巨額罰款。Garante發現TIM在未經用戶同意的情況下，進行大規模的電話營銷活動，並且在數據處理過程中存在多項違規行為，包括未能提供充分的透明度、未能有效管理用戶同意撤回請求等。此案涉及GDPR第5條（數據處理原則）、第6條（處理的合法性）、第17條（刪除權）、第21條（反對權）和第32條（處理安全）。

案例啟示：此案表明Garante對未經同意的營銷活動和用戶權利保障的零容忍態度。對於依賴直接營銷的中國出海企業，務必確保獲取明確、自願、具體的同意，並提供便捷的撤回同意機制。同時，企業必須建立健全的數據處理安全措施，以防止數據泄露和濫用。

意大利Garante作為歐盟數據保護領域的重要力量，其執法行動為所有在歐盟運營的企業敲響了警鐘。對於中國出海歐盟的企業而言，將GDPR合規視為企業發展的基石，主動適應並融入歐盟的數據保護文化，不僅是法律要求，更是贏得消費者信任、實現可持續發展的必然選擇。通過深入理解Garante的執法理念和案例，企業可以更好地預判風險，制定有效的合規策略，從而在競爭激烈的歐洲市場中穩健前行。

Within the stringent framework of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), national Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) play a crucial role. Among them, the Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante per la protezione dei dati personali, or Garante) stands out as one of the most active and influential bodies in the EU, known for its proactive enforcement actions and steadfast defense of data protection principles. For Chinese enterprises expanding into the EU market, a deep understanding of the Garante’s operational model, enforcement priorities, and typical cases is essential for ensuring compliance and mitigating risks.

In May 2025, the Garante fined Autostrade per l’Italia Spa, an Italian highway company, €420,000. This case originated from an employee’s complaint that the company had unauthorizedly used content extracted from her Facebook profile and private chats on Messenger and WhatsApp to justify disciplinary proceedings against her. The Garante ruled that the company’s processing of personal data violated Articles 5 (Principles relating to processing of personal data), 6 (Lawfulness of processing), and 88 (Data processing in the employment context) of the GDPR, as well as Article 113 of the Italian Data Protection Code.

Case Insight: This case highlights the Garante’s emphasis on employee data privacy. Even publicly accessible social media information cannot be arbitrarily used by enterprises for purposes related to employee disciplinary actions. When processing employee personal data, enterprises must strictly adhere to the principles of lawfulness, purpose limitation, and data minimization, and ensure a sufficient legal basis.

In January 2020, the Garante imposed a hefty fine of €27.8 million on TIM, an Italian telecommunications company. The Garante found that TIM had conducted large-scale telemarketing campaigns without user consent and had multiple violations in its data processing, including failure to provide sufficient transparency and ineffective management of user consent withdrawal requests. This case involved Articles 5 (Principles relating to processing of personal data), 6 (Lawfulness of processing), 17 (Right to erasure), 21 (Right to object), and 32 (Security of processing) of the GDPR.

Case Insight: This case demonstrates the Garante’s zero-tolerance attitude towards unconsented marketing activities and the protection of user rights. For Chinese enterprises relying on direct marketing, it is crucial to ensure explicit, voluntary, and specific consent is obtained, and to provide convenient mechanisms for withdrawing consent. Furthermore, enterprises must establish robust data processing security measures to prevent data breaches and misuse.

The Italian Garante, as a significant force in EU data protection, has sounded a warning to all enterprises operating in the EU through its enforcement actions. For Chinese enterprises expanding into the EU, treating GDPR compliance as the cornerstone of business development, actively adapting to and integrating into the EU’s data protection culture, is not only a legal requirement but also an inevitable choice for gaining consumer trust and achieving sustainable development. By deeply understanding the Garante’s enforcement philosophy and cases, enterprises can better anticipate risks and formulate effective compliance strategies, thereby steadily advancing in the competitive European market.