Data Protection Officer

High damages claims and administrative fines in the event of data protection breaches: the appointment of a data protection officer is mandatory. Are you familiar with their responsibilities and duties, and are these being implemented in a correct and compliant manner?

As a rule, data protection officers have no decision-making power themselves but report to the management. Hence, it is the management that is responsible for complying with and implementing data protection. If the data protection officers are awarded corresponding powers to issue instructions under their respective contracts, this will also impact their liability.

Even without formal decision-making powers, data protection officers have considerable responsibility. With statutory provisions becoming increasingly complex, their tasks are also becoming more extensive. Breaches may trigger high damages claims and administrative fines and cause considerable reputational damage.

Are you sufficiently protected and trained?