3rd International Data Protection Officers Day

May 24, 2023

Press Release

EFDPO Points to Qualified Privacy Professionals as Key Factor for Successful Implementation of New EU Digital Legislation

On May 25, 2023, the world will not only celebrate the 5th anniversary of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), but also the 3rd International Data Protection Officers Day. This day was first initiated by the European Federation of Data Protection Officers (EFDPO). Since the GDPR came into effect on May 25, 2018, the role of Data Protection Officers (DPOs) has been officially recognized in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). The GDPR defines the specific responsibilities and qualifications required for DPOs and emphasizes their crucial role as independent advisors in both the private and public sectors.

“One of the key factors contributing to the success of the GDPR is the introduction of the Data Protection Officer at the European level as a highly qualified professional bridging the gap between data controllers, data subjects, and supervisory authorities,” states EFDPO President Thomas Spaeing. He adds, that a similar positive influence could be achieved by DPOs when it comes to the new European digital legislation: “In order to achieve the European Commission’s goal to strengthen the EU’s position in the data economy, it will be necessary to find experts capable of putting regulations like the Data Act or the AI Act into practice. In a situation where there is already a shortage of hundreds of thousands of qualified IT and data professionals in the EU, many companies and public institutions could resort to experts who already deal with data, data processing and data sharing in their daily work: qualified DPOs.” According to Spaeing, greater involvement of DPOs in the implementation of the new digital legislation would have a positive impact not only on the speed and the cost of implementation, but also on the confidence of the public, affected companies, and regulators in the feasibility of implementation.

Based in Brussels, the EFDPO is the European umbrella association of Data Protection Officers and privacy professionals. It comprises a network of 14 national DPO associations dedicated to sharing information, experiences, and methodologies, while engaging in continuous dialogue with policymakers, business representatives, and civil society. The EFDPO ensures the dissemination of information from the European level to national levels and proactively monitors, evaluates, and shapes the implementation of the GDPR and other European privacy legislation. The EFDPO aims to raise awareness about the crucial role of DPOs, promote further professionalization in this field, and ultimately strengthen data protection as a competitive advantage for Europe. For more information, visit www.efdpo.eu.

EFDPO contacts:

European Federation of Data Protection Officers AISBL, Rue de Namur 73A, 1000 Brussels, BelgiumEFDPO Press Office, phone +49 30 20 62 14 41, email: office@efdpo.eu, www.efdpo.eu

President: Thomas Spaeing (Germany)Vice Presidents: Xavier Leclerc (France – UDPO), Judith Leschanz (Austria), Inês Oliveira (Portugal),
Vladan Rámiš (Czech Republic)

Effective members:

  • Austria: privacyofficers.at – Verein österreichischer betrieblicher und behördlicher Datenschutzbeauftragter
  • Czech Republic: Spolek pro ochranu osobních údajů
  • France: UDPO, Union des Data Protection Officer – DPO
  • French Polynesia: U.D.P.O Pacific
  • Germany: Berufsverband der Datenschutzbeauftragten Deutschlands (BvD) e. V.
  • Greece: Hellenic Association for Data Protection and Privacy (HADPP)
  • Liechtenstein: dsv.li-Datenschutzverein in Liechtenstein
  • Portugal: APDPO PORTUGAL Associação dos Profissionais de Proteção e de Segurança de Dados
  • Slovakia: Spolok na ochranu osobných údajov
  • Switzerland: Data Privacy Community

Associate members

  • Brazil: Associação Nacional dos Profissionais de Privacidade de Dados
  • Croatia: Feralis Center
  • Germany: Fachverband Externe Datenschutzbeauftragte e.V.
  • Switzerland: Association Suisse des Délégués à la Protection des Données (ASDPO)

EFDPO contacts:

European Federation of Data Protection Officers AISBL, Rue de Namur 73A, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
EFDPO Press Office, phone +49 30 20 62 14 41, email: office@efdpo.eu, www.efdpo.eu

President: Thomas Spaeing (Germany); Vice Presidents: Xavier Leclerc (France – UDPO), Judith Leschanz (Austria), Inês Oliveira (Portugal), Vladan Rámiš (Czech Republic); Secretary General: Pierre-Yves Lastic (France)

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