UK fines British Airways over data hack

Britain's Information Commissioner's Office has fined British Airways STG20 million ($A36.5 million) for failing to protect personal data for some 400,000 customers, the largest fine the agency has ever issued.

The ICO said in a statement on Friday that the airline was processing personal data without adequate security measures. It also noted that it did not detect a 2018 cyber attack for two months.

Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said BA's "failure to act was unacceptable and affected hundreds of thousands of people, which may have caused some anxiety and distress as a result."

Under the European Union's General Data Protection Rules imposed in 2018, organisations face fines of up to 20 million euros or 4 per cent of annual global turnover - whichever is greater - for the most serious violations.