A €14.5 million (U.S. $17.2 million) fine against Deutsche Wohnen issued more than a year ago has been dropped after a German court found under German law the property company could not be held responsible for violating the European Union’s strict privacy laws unless blame could be attached to a specific individual or executive.

Neil Hodge is a freelance business journalist and photographer based in Nottingham, United Kingdom. He writes on insurance and risk management, corporate governance, internal audit, compliance, and legal...