If the personal information of at least 100 persons is harmed, what is the implication regarding penalties?

When the personal information of at least 100 individuals is compromised, it signifies a serious breach of data privacy regulations. In such scenarios, the law typically stipulates that a maximum penalty is warranted to reflect the gravity of the violation. This approach serves multiple purposes: it acts as a deterrent to companies and organizations, emphasizes the importance of data protection, and reinforces compliance with privacy laws. Large-scale breaches can result in significant harm to affected individuals, including identity theft, financial loss, and a general loss of trust in the entities that mishandle personal data. Therefore, the imposition of maximum penalties underlines the legal obligations that data handlers must adhere to and underscores the potential consequences of failing to protect personal information adequately.

Other responses, such as no penalty applying, imposing a smaller penalty, or merely issuing a warning, do not align with the severity usually associated with breaches affecting a substantial number of individuals. Such leniencies would undermine the intent of data protection legislation, which seeks to uphold individuals' rights to privacy and safeguard their personal information against misuse.