The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) in the New Hampshire town of Portsmouth - whose website proclaims that "data powers the information economy and the risks are about to skyrocket" - has produced a handy reference guide to government-imposed data privacy fines around the world.

Top 20 government-imposed data privacy fines worldwide, 1999-2014

Rank/Fined entity         Amount    Year     Country Privacy principles violated

1. Apple                             $32.5M     2014     US    Choice and Consent
2. Google                           $22.5M     2012     US     Collection
3. Google                           $17M       2013     US     Collection and Notice
4. ChoicePoint                  $15M       2006     US     Security
5. Hewlett-Packard          $14,5M     2006     US     Collection
6. LifeLock                        $12M       2010     US    Accuracy, Security
7. TJ Maxx                        $9.8M      2009     US     Security
8. Dish Network               $6M      2009     US     Choice and Consent
9. DirecTV                        $5.3M     2005     US     Choice and Consent
10. HSBC                          $5M       2009     UK     Security
11. US Bancorp                $5M      1999     US     Disclosure
12. Craftmatic                  $4.3        2007     US     Choice and Consent
13. Cignet Health            $4.3M     2011     US     Access
14. Barclays Bank           $3.8M     2013     US     Use and Retention
15. Certegy Check Svs    $3.5M     2013     US     Accuracy
16. Playdom                     $3M     2011     US     Collection and Notice
17. Broadcast Team         $2.8M     2007     US     Collection
18. Equifax, TransUn
-ion and Experian           $2.5M     2000     US     Access
19. CVS Caremark           $2.3M     2009     US     Security and Disposal
20. Norwich Union Life $1.8M     2007     UK     Disclosure