Data protection – Breach of data protection principles – Compensation. Sheriff Court: In an action in which the pursuers claimed the defender was in breach of three of the data protection principles in the Data Protection Act 1998 in relation to surveillance of their private family residence with closed circuit television and audio equipment, and sought compensation, the court concluded that the defender, as data controller, was in breach of her duties under the 1998 Act and it awarded the sums sought by way of compensation for distress, ie £8,634 to each of the pursuers.