Belgium: IAB Europe files appeal against Belgian DPA ruling for alleged GDPR breach

On 4 March 2022, IAB Europe announced that it is filing an appeal against the Belgian Data Protection Authority's administrative ruling regarding the alleged GDPR violation of IAB Europe and the Transparency & Consent Framework (TCF), imposing a fine of EUR 250,000. IAB Europe denies acting as a controller for the recording of TC Strings (digital signals used to record data subjects' preferences for how their personal data is processed) and as a joint controller for the dissemination of TC Strings and other data processing done by TCF participants under the OpenRTB protocol. The appeal, filed before the Belgian Market Court, includes a request for a stay of execution of the judgment, which would put all orders on hold until the court renders a ruling on the merits.