Can you get in trouble for a data breach?

Asked by: Mrs. Estell Flatley V  |  Last update: June 29, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (14 votes)

Hackers and cybercriminals can face criminal charges like computer fraud, identity theft, and wrongful disclosure, which may lead to jail sentences.

What is the penalty for data breach?

The Act mandates that organizations take comprehensive measures to prevent, and if necessary, respond to data breaches effectively. Data breaches can precipitate massive financial losses, inflict irreparable damage to your brand's reputation, and can now attract penalties as steep as ₹250 Crores.

How serious is a data breach?

But any data breach can leave you at risk of identity theft if the hackers want to use that information against you. Even a breach of less sensitive information like the one with Under Armour's MyFitnessPal users can have a big impact—150 million users big to be exact.

How much can I sue for a data breach?

Penalties. Individuals harmed by a data breach can start a civil action to recover any incurred damages, with the exemption of individuals affected under the medical information-specific statute in California. The maximum amount awarded for a single event cannot go over $250,000.

What are my rights after a data breach?

Your Rights After a Data Breach

Under state privacy and data protection laws, you typically have the following rights. Right to know. You often get the right to request that a company disclose the sensitive information about you that they collect, use, or disclose, as well as information about data practices.

Here’s what to do if a data breach exposes your information

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Am I personally liable for a data breach?

State and federal data privacy laws in the U.S. do not impose civil liabilities in the event of a cyber intrusion. Typically, liability is imposed if the following conditions exist: An entity failed to implement safeguards required by statute or reasonable security measures.

Can I be compensated after a data breach?

If an organization does not protect your personal information as required by law, you can claim compensation for such data privacy breach, which may include financial loss, emotional distress and/or inconvenience suffered.

How much can you be fined for a data breach?

The EU GDPR sets a maximum fine of €20 million (about £18 million) or 4% of annual global turnover – whichever is greater – for infringements. However, not all GDPR infringements lead to data protection fines.

How to find out if someone got a settlement?

How To Find Out If Someone Got A Settlement. The best way to determine if someone received a settlement or not is to file a records request with the court via the clerk's office. There is no guarantee this information is public. You also try asking the individual involved in the settlement if all else fails.

Can you get money for a data breach?

If you make a successful claim for a breach of your personal data, you could be awarded compensation for your material damage (money lost because of the compromise of your data) and non-material damage (harm to your mental health due to the data breach).

How much is a data breach worth?

In 2024, the average cost of a data breach reached a staggering $4.88 million, marking a 10% increase over last year. This sobering statistic underscores a disturbing trend in our increasingly digital world: data breaches are becoming more frequent, more sophisticated, and significantly more expensive.

What is considered a serious breach?

A serious breach is a breach of Good Clinical Practice or the protocol that is likely to affect to a significant degree: The safety or rights of a research participant. The reliability and robustness of the data generated in the research project.

What is the biggest data breach settlement?

Meta's $1.4 billion settlement with the Texas Attorney General for unlawful collection of biometric data in violation of the Texas Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act and The Deceptive Trade Practices Act (largest ever privacy settlement in the U.S.).

What is the latest data breach in 2024?

The biggest data breaches of 2024
  • Infosys (8.5 million records) ...
  • UnitedHealth (100 million individuals) ...
  • Young Consulting (950,000 individuals) ...
  • Ticketmaster (40 million individuals) ...
  • Evolve Bank (7.6 million individuals) ...
  • Dell (49 million customers and 10,000 employees) ...
  • Tile (66 million individuals) ...
  • Snowflake (Unknown)

What happens if you are in a data breach?

A data breach can easily result in identity theft when sensitive information is exposed to unauthorised individuals. Hackers can use this information to steal a person's identity and commit fraudulent activities, such as opening new accounts or making unauthorised purchases.

Can I sue if my data is breached?

Breached Organizations

The company that stored your data may be held accountable through a civil lawsuit if it can be established that the company failed to use adequate security measures to protect that data stored in its network.

What happens if you don't report a data breach?

The GDPR introduced a duty on all organisations to report certain types of personal data breaches to the relevant supervisory authority. Failing to do so can result in heavy fines and penalties and an investigation by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

What type of crime is a data breach?

The terms "data breach" and "breach" are often used interchangeably with "cyberattack." However, not all cyberattacks are data breaches. Data breaches include only those security breaches where someone gains unauthorized access to data.

How long does a data breach settlement take?

A claim for data breach compensation could take anywhere from a few months to a few years to resolve. If the surrounding circumstances are relatively clear cut and the organisation accepts a settlement, you can expect the process to proceed much faster.

How much compensation can you get for breach of contract?

In a breach of contract case, damages typically cannot exceed four times the actual losses. However, the exact amount depends on the specifics of your case. Consult with a lawyer to determine the potential damages you may recover.

What qualifies as a data breach?

Answer. A data breach occurs when the data for which your company/organisation is responsible suffers a security incident resulting in a breach of confidentiality, availability or integrity.

What are my rights in a data breach?

You can sue a business if your nonencrypted and nonredacted personal information was stolen in a data breach as a result of the business's failure to maintain reasonable security procedures and practices to protect it.

Can I make a claim for a data breach?

To address any harm you endured, the law gives you the right to seek financial compensation following a data breach. You can and should seek legal recourse from a company that exposed your data, and you can file a lawsuit to obtain payment for your losses.