---
title: "Knuddels fined EUR 20,000 (Germany, 2018)"
canonical: "https://dposchool.com/gdpr/fine/lfdi-bw-knuddels-2018-11"
source: "https://www.baden-wuerttemberg.datenschutz.de/lfdi-baden-wuerttemberg-verhaengt-sein-erstes-bussgeld-in-deutschland-nach-der-ds-gvo/"
source_note: "Only the authority's decision is authoritative."
text_as_of: "2026-10-28"
last_reviewed: "2026-10-29"
language: "en"
publisher: "DPO School"
---

Fine · Germany

# Knuddels: EUR 20,000

[Reviewed by Sergio Maldonado Elvira on 29 October 2026](https://dposchool.com/gdpr/about#review)

- **Authority:** State Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information Baden-Württemberg (LfDI BW)
- **Country:** Germany
- **Date:** Decision of 21 November 2018
- **Amount:** EUR 20,000, as imposed (not converted)
- **Appeal status:** Unknown
- **Provisions cited:** [Article 32(1)(a)](https://dposchool.com/gdpr/article/32#1-a)

## What the fine was for (summary, not the official text)

First German GDPR fine: a chat platform stored users' passwords in plain text, exposed in a hack of about 330,000 accounts; low amount reflects exemplary cooperation.

## Official source

- [Decision or announcement of the authority](https://www.baden-wuerttemberg.datenschutz.de/lfdi-baden-wuerttemberg-verhaengt-sein-erstes-bussgeld-in-deutschland-nach-der-ds-gvo/)

Checked against the official source on 28 October 2026.

Only the authority's decision is authoritative. This is reference material, not legal advice.

## Navigation

[GDPR Navigator](https://dposchool.com/gdpr) / [Fines](https://dposchool.com/gdpr/fines) / Knuddels

[All fines](https://dposchool.com/gdpr/fines)

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