Karsten Füllhaase
EFDPO Press Release: 2nd International Data Protection Officers Day
May 25, 2022 is the 2nd International Data Protection Officers Day. It was first initiated by the European Federation of Data Protection Officers (EFDPO) on the occasion of the 4th birthday of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). With the entry into force of the GDPR on 25 May 2018, the role of the Data Protection Officer (DPO) was officially introduced in the European Union (EU) and the EEA. It gives DPOs a specific job profile, it sets requirements for their professional qualification, and highlights the great significance of DPOs as a special independent advisor in the private and public sector.
„One of the reasons for the success of the GDPR is the introduction of the data protection officer at the European level as a highly qualified bridge between data controllers, data subjects and supervisory authorities,“ says EFDPO President Thomas Spaeing. „Nevertheless, even after four years of the GDPR, the DPO is still not officially recognized as a profession in every European country. We would therefore encourage the International Labor Organization to include the data protection officer in the International Classification Type of Professions. EFDPO is always open to discussions and technical input on this topic.”
Based in Brussels, EFDPO is the European umbrella association of data protection officers and privacy professionals. It is a network of currently 12 national DPO associations set up to exchange information, experience and methods, to establish a continuous dialogue with the political sphere, business representatives and civil society. By doing so, EFDPO ensures a flow of information from the European to the national level and proactively monitors, evaluates and shapes the implementation of the GDPR and other European privacy legal acts. EFDPO aims to create awareness for the crucial role of DPOs, promote further professionalization in this occupational field and as a result strengthen data protection as a competitive advantage for Europe.
To raise awareness of the benefits of highly qualified DPOs, the EFDPO will publish an informational brochure on May 25, available for free download at www.efdpo.eu. In addition, some EFDPO member associations are holding events at national level around 25 May to mark the International Data Protection Officers‘ Day. The main purpose is to raise awareness and importance of the profession of data protection officer. The Czech Date Protection Association, e.g., will present the DPO of the Year award on May 26.
For more information visit: www.efdpo.eu
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)
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