Data Protection in Germany
| Data Protection in Germany | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Data Protection Authority: | BfDI (Germany) and 16 State DPAs |
| National Implementation Law (Original): | Bundesdatenschutzgesetz (BDSG) |
| English Translation of National Implementation Law: | English Translation |
| Official Language(s): | German |
| National Legislation Database(s): | Link |
| English Legislation Database(s): | Link |
| National Decision Database(s): | Link |
Legislation
History
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National constitutional protections
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National GDPR implementation law
In Germany the GDPR is implemented by the Bundesdatenschutzgesetz (BDSG).
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Age of consent
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Freedom of Speech
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Employment context
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Research
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Other relevant national provisions and laws
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National ePrivacy Law
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Data Protection Authorities
BfDI (Federal DPA)
The German Federal Data Protection Authority (Die Bundesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit) is the national data protection authority for Germany. It is however only in charge of federal government authorities and private telecoms and postal services. Any other private entity in Germany is regulated by the relevant state DPA.
→ Details see BfDI (Germany)
German State DPAs for the private sector
The following DPAs are in charge of private sector controllers (except telecoms and postal services) in Germany:
- LDA (Brandenburg)
- BlnBDI (Berlin)
- LfDI (Baden-Württemberg)
- BayLfD (Bavaria)
- LfDI (Bremen)
- HBDI (Hesse)
- HmbBfDI (Hamburg)
- LDSB (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)
- LfDI (Lower Saxony)
- LDI (North Rhine-Westphalia)
- LFDI (Rhineland-Palatinate)
- ULD (Schleswig-Holstein)
- Datenschutzzentrum (Saarland)
- DSB (Saxony)
- LfD (Saxony-Anhalt)
- TLfDI (Thuringia)
Judicial protection
Civil Courts
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Administrative Courts
Appeals against decisions of German DPAs are brought before the district administrative courts (Verwaltungsgericht; e.g. for the Federal DPA in Bonn/North Rhine-Westphalia - the administrative court in Cologne, for the LDI in Düsseldorf (North Rhine-Westphalia) - the administrative court in Düsseldorf). In most cases appeal against the courts decision (Berufung) is possible to the Lands corresponding Higher Administrative Court (Oberverwaltungsgericht [OVG], Verwaltungsgerichtshof [VGH] in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Hesse; Berlin and Bandenburg share one OVG). In some cases appeal against the Higher Administrative Court (Revision) is possible to the Federal Administrative Court (Bundesverwaltungsgericht [BVerfG])- this appeal is also possible in some rare cases if plaintiff and defendant both agree as an appeal to a district court's decision (Sprungrevision).
The German administative courts regularly are described as used to interpreting european law. The European Court of Justice is in high esteem.
Constitutional Court
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