{
  "schema_version": "1.1",
  "id": "gdpr-fines-20-million-or-4-percent-turnover",
  "slug": "gdpr-fines-20-million-or-4-percent-turnover",
  "url": "https://groundedkit.com/claims/gdpr-fines-20-million-or-4-percent-turnover/",
  "api_url": "https://groundedkit.com/api/claims/gdpr-fines-20-million-or-4-percent-turnover.json",
  "claim": "GDPR fines can reach €20 million or 4% of worldwide annual turnover, whichever is higher",
  "commonly_cited_as": "\"GDPR fines up to 4% of global revenue\"",
  "verdict": "verified",
  "verdict_definition": "Primary source found; it says the same thing, the scope matches, and it is reasonably current.",
  "confidence": "high",
  "rating": {
    "value": 5,
    "best": 5,
    "worst": 1
  },
  "origin": {
    "publisher": "European Union (GDPR Art. 83)",
    "title": "Art. 83 GDPR – General conditions for imposing administrative fines",
    "year": "2016"
  },
  "quote": "administrative fines up to 20 000 000 EUR, or in the case of an undertaking, up to 4 % of the total worldwide annual turnover of the preceding financial year, whichever is higher",
  "method": "Regulation text. A lower tier (€10 million or 2%) applies to other infringements listed in Art. 83(4).",
  "drift": [
    "The 4% tier covers core infringements (principles, consent, data-subject rights, transfers); other breaches cap at €10M or 2%"
  ],
  "interest": "n/a (statute or regulation).",
  "safe_rephrasing": "Under GDPR Article 83, the most serious infringements can be fined up to €20 million or 4% of worldwide annual turnover, whichever is higher; other infringements cap at €10 million or 2%.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "GDPR Art. 83 (gdpr-info.eu)",
      "url": "https://gdpr-info.eu/art-83-gdpr/",
      "primary": true
    }
  ],
  "kind": "reference_fact",
  "as_of": "Regulation (EU) 2016/679, applicable since May 25, 2018",
  "last_checked": "2026-10-16",
  "stale": false,
  "date_reviewed": "2026-10-16",
  "license": "CC BY 4.0",
  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
}