Fines for non-compliance with consent and privacy regulations are climbing worldwide. In 2025, enforcement actions in multiple regions underscored the importance of strong consent management and privacy practices.
Europe – GDPR Dominance
Total Fines in 2025 (H1): €3B+ across all cases
Notable Case: TikTok fined €530M by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission for unlawful EU → China data transfers and transparency violations (Reuters).
Lesson: Lawful, transparent consent and secure data transfers are non-negotiable.
United States – State Privacy Laws
Total Fines in 2025: $1.375B+
Notable Case: Google agreed to pay $1.375B in a Texas settlement over unlawful tracking and biometric data collection (Reuters).
Lesson: Compliance with state-specific laws like the CCPA, as well as federal regulations, is essential.
APAC – Accelerating Enforcement
Notable Case: Australia’s OAIC sued Optus over a 2022 breach affecting 9.5M customers, with potential fines of A$2.22M per contravention (Reuters).
Lesson: Regional regulations can impose massive potential liabilities, even years after an incident.
LATAM – Growing Enforcement
Notable Case: Peru imposed fines totaling S/13M (~US$3.5M) in 2024 for data mishandling and inadequate security (Mayer Brown).
Lesson: LATAM regulators are stepping up enforcement under data protection laws like Brazil’s LGPD and Peru’s framework.
Key Takeaways
- Enforcement is global, no market is immune.
- Cross-border businesses must adapt consent processes to meet local rules, not just international standards.
- A robust CMP (Consent Management Platform) can help avoid fines, ensure compliance, and build user trust.
2025’s record penalties highlight a critical truth: compliance is no longer optional. Organizations that invest in effective consent management solutions are not only reducing legal risk but also strengthening their brand reputation.
