LfD (Lower Saxony)

Landesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz Niedersachsen

Name:	Landesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz Niedersachsen
Abbreviation:	LfDI
Jurisdiction:	Lower Saxony
Head:	Barbara Thiel
Deputy:	n/a
Adress:	Prinzenstr. 5 30159 Hannover GERMANY
Webpage:	https://www.lfd.niedersachsen.de
Email:	poststelle@lfd.niedersachsen.de
Phone:	+49 (0)5 11/120-45 00
Twitter:	n/a
Procedural Law:	NVwVfG, VwVfG
Decision Database:	n/a
Translated Decisions:	Category:LfDI (Lower Saxony)
Head Count:	about 50
Budget:	n/a

The Lower Saxony DPA (Landesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz Niedersachsen) is the state Data Protection Authority for the German state of Lower Saxony and in charge of enforcing the GDPR in the state's private sector.

Structure

The DPA is structured into six specialist departments, as depicted in their organigramm here.

Applicable Material Law

Lower Saxony's Data Protection Act is Niedersächsisches Datenschutzgesetz - NDSG.

The NDSG makes (corresponding § 1(1)NDSG) complementary arrangements to the provisions of the GDPR and references data processing on which the GDPR shall be applicable (§ 2 NDSG). It is more specific to the German Federal Data Protection Act (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz - BDSG). So the GDPR is applicable, unless there are no specific rules contained in the NDSG nor the BDSG nor another specific law.

Procedural Information

The DPA follows a two-fold approch in their cases. First, they have an administrative procedure where they investigate the case, including assessing possible violations. If a violation is determined, they initiate a follow-up procedure. This second procedure is an entirely new/separate procedure, where the actual decision is made.

The result of this approach is, amongst other things, that the details of the investigation are not disclosed, as they are part of a criminal proceeding.

Applicable Procedural Law

Lower Saxony's procedural law, "Lower Saxony Administrative Procedure Act", is Niedersächsisches Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz - NVwVfG.

Corresponding § 1(1) NVwVfG the German Administrative Procedures Law (Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz - VwVfG) is applicable except for some provisions (§§ 1, 2, 61(2), §§ 78, 94, §§ 100 to 101 VwVfG). The NVwVfG contains further provisions to the VwVfG.

Corresponding § 1(2) NVwVfG the VwVfG and the NVwVfG are only applicable if there are no other statutory provisions of Lower Saxony which contain coextensive or conflicting assignments.

Complaints Procedure under Art 77 GDPR

The DPA has an electronic form for complaints, but a complaint can also be filed via mail, email or fax. The DPA also provides instructions for lodging complaints.