CNPD (Luxembourg) - Délibération n° 41FR/2021
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| CNPD (Luxembourg) - Decision 41FR/2021 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Authority: | CNPD (Luxembourg) |
| Jurisdiction: | Luxembourg |
| Relevant Law: | Article 37(7) GDPR Article 38(1) GDPR Article 38(3) GDPR Article 39(1)(b) GDPR Article 58(2) GDPR Article 83 GDPR |
| Type: | Investigation |
| Outcome: | Violation Found |
| Started: | |
| Decided: | 27.10.2021 |
| Published: | 29.11.2021 |
| Fine: | 18700 EUR |
| Parties: | n/a |
| National Case Number/Name: | Decision 41FR/2021 |
| European Case Law Identifier: | n/a |
| Appeal: | Unknown |
| Original Language(s): | French |
| Original Source: | Luxembourg DPA (in FR) |
| Initial Contributor: | Florence D'Ath |
Following an audit, the Luxembourg DPA (CNPD) imposed a fine of €18,700 on a company because of four breaches relating to the role and position of its Data protection Officer (DPO), and issued an injunction against that company to bring its practices in compliance with the GDPR.
English Summary
Facts
In 2018, the Luxembourg DPA (the CNPD) initiated 25 different audit proceedings both in the private and public sector with regard to the role of the Data Protection Officer (DPO) under Section 4 of Chapter 4 of the GDPR (see in particular Article 37 GDPR to Article 39 GDPR).
One of these audit proceedings concerned a Luxembourg private company (hereafter, the Company). During the audit, it was found by the head of investigation of the CNPD that :
(1) the Company had failed to publish the contact details of its DPO in breach of Article 37(7) GDPR;
(2) the Company had failed to ensure that the DPO was involved, properly and in a timely manner, in all issues which relate to the protection of personal data, in breach of Article 38(1) GDPR;
(3) the Company had failed to ensure that the DPO could fulfill their mission with a sufficient degree of autonomy, in breach of Article 38(3) GDPR;
(4) the Company had failed to ensure that the DPO could properly monitor the compliance of the Company's data processing practices with the GDPR, in breach of Article 39(1)(b) GDPR.
In their audit report, the head of investigation therefore recommended the CNPD to impose a fine of €18,700 on the Company, and to issue an injunction against the Company to bring its practices in compliance with the GDPR.
Holding
Following the audit and the report from the head of investigation, the CNPD found that the Company had been in breach of four distinct obligations relating to the role of the DPO under the GDPR, as specified below.
Regarding the breach of Article 37(7) GDPR, the CNPD noted that it had been found that the public website public of the Company did not provide the direct contact details of the DPO. In case of questions or requests from data subjects, the website only provided a general online contact form, a postal address, or a telephone number. Based on these facts, the CNPD found that data subjects were not able to directly contact the DPO (but only indirectly, via an other services within the Company). In the course of the proceedings, the Company remedied that breach by adding the contact details of the DPO in its online data protection notice (and in particular, in the section on the rights of data subjects). The CNPD nevertheless found that, at the time of the audit, there had been a breach of Article 37(7) GDPR.
Regarding the breach of Article 38(1) GDPR, the CNPD considered that the DPO had not been sufficiently involved in all issues relating to data protection law. In particular, the audit report pointed to the fact that the DPO was only being involved in various internal meetings or committees upon invitation or on an ad hoc basis, but there was no defined rule or frequency as to the involvement of the DPO in these committees. In the course of the investigation, the Company implemented new procedures according to which the DPO would become a permanent member of, or would be regularly involved in various committees meetings. Although welcoming these new measures, the CNPD nevertheless concluded that the Company had been in breach of Article 38(1) GDPR prior to these changes.
Regarding the breach of Article 38(3) GDPR, the audit report pointed to the existence of several hierarchical intermediaries between the DPO and the highest level of management within the Company. Based on these facts, the CNPD found that the DPO could not directly report to the highest management level of the Company, and did not have a sufficient degree of autonomy and independence, as normally required by Article 38(3) GDPR.
Regarding the breach of Article 39(1)(b) GDPR, the audit report pointed to the absence of any monitoring plan or procedures that would formalize and ensure that the DPO is able to duly monitor the compliance of the Company's data processing practices with the GDPR. Although the Company explained that monitoring procedures had been developed and finalised in December 2019, to be implemented in 2020. Because such control plan or monitoring procedures had not been put in place at the time the investigation was initiated, the CNPD concluded that the Company had breached Article 39(1)(b) GDPR.
For all these reasons, the CNPD issued an injunction against the Company to bring its practices in compliance with the GDPR for the remaining breaches (with a deadline of 4 months as from the date of the decision), and also imposed an administrative fine of €18,700 EUR on the Company.
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English Machine Translation of the Decision
The decision below is a machine translation of the French original. Please refer to the French original for more details.
Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on
the outcome of survey No. [...] conducted with Company A
Deliberation n ° 41FR / 2021 of October 27, 2021
The National Commission for Data Protection sitting in a restricted body,
composed of Mrs Tine A. Larsen, president, and Messrs Thierry Lallemang and Marc
Lemmer, commissioners;
Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of April 27, 2016 on
the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data
personnel and the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46 / EC;
Having regard to the law of 1 August 2018 on the organization of the National Commission for the Protection
data and the general data protection regime, in particular Article 41 thereof;
Having regard to the internal regulations of the National Commission for Data Protection
adopted by decision n ° 3AD / 2020 dated 22 January 2020, in particular Article 10, point
2;
Having regard to the regulation of the National Commission for Data Protection relating to
investigation procedure adopted by decision n ° 4AD / 2020 dated 22 January 2020, in particular
its article 9;
Considering the following:
I. Facts and procedure
1. Given the impact of the role of the data protection officer (hereinafter: the "DPO") and
the importance of its integration into the body, and considering that the guidelines
concerning DPOs have been available since December 2016, i.e. 17 months before entry into
application of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of April 27, 2016
on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data
personal data and the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46 / EC
1The guidelines concerning DPOs were adopted by the “Article 29” working group on 13
December 2016. The revised version (WP 243 rev. 01) was adopted on April 5, 2017.
________________________________________________________________________
Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
survey no. [...] conducted with Company A
1/21 (General Data Protection Regulation) (hereafter: the "GDPR"), the Commission
National Data Protection Authority (hereinafter: the “National Commission” or the
"CNPD") has decided to launch a thematic survey campaign on the function of the DPO.
Thus, 25 audit procedures were opened in 2018, concerning both the private sector and the
public sector.
2. In particular, the National Commission decided by decision no. […] Of 14
September 2018 to initiate an investigation in the form of a data protection audit
with Company A located at […], […] and registered in the Trade and
Luxembourg companies under number […] (hereinafter: the “controlled”) and to designate Mr. Christophe
Buschmann as the head of the investigation. The said deliberation specifies that the investigation relates to the
compliance of the inspected with section 4 of chapter 4 of the GDPR.
3. […] the purpose of the control is all activities relating to banks or establishments
credit […].
4. By letter of September 17, 2018, the head of the survey sent a questionnaire
preliminary to the control to which the latter replied by letter of September 28, 2018.
on-site visit took place on January 29, 2019. Following these discussions, the head of the investigation established
the audit report no. […] (hereinafter: the "audit report").
5. It emerges from the audit report that in order to verify the compliance of the organization with the
section 4 of chapter 4 of the GDPR, the head of the investigation defined eleven control objectives,
know :
1) Ensure that the body subject to the obligation to appoint a DPO has done so;
2) Make sure that the organization has published the contact details of its DPO;
3) Ensure that the organization has communicated the contact details of its DPO to the CNPD;
4) Ensure that the DPO has sufficient expertise and skills to
carry out its missions effectively;
5) Ensure that the missions and tasks of the DPO do not give rise to a conflict of interest;
6) Ensure that the DPO has sufficient resources to perform effectively
of its missions;
7) Ensure that the DPO is able to carry out his missions to a sufficient degree
autonomy within their organization;
________________________________________________________________________
Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
survey no. [...] conducted with Company A 2/21 8) Ensure that the organization has put in place measures so that the DPO is associated with
all matters relating to data protection;
9) Ensure that the DPO fulfills his mission of information and advice to the
data controller and employees;
10) Ensure that the DPO exercises adequate control over data processing within
of his body;
11) Ensure that the DPO assists the data controller in carrying out the
impact analyzes in the event of new data processing.
6. By letter of 21 October 2019 (hereinafter: the “statement of objections”), the Chief
investigation informed the inspector of breaches of obligations under the GDPR that it
noted during its investigation. The audit report was attached to this letter.
7. In particular, the head of the investigation noted in the statement of objections
failures to
2
the obligation to publish the contact details of the DPO;
the obligation to involve the DPO in all matters relating to the protection of
3
data;
the obligation to guarantee the autonomy of the DPO; 4
the DPD's control mission. 5
8. By letter of November 15, 2019, the inspector sent the head of the investigation
position on the shortcomings identified in the statement of objections.
9. On August 3, 2020, the head of the investigation sent the inspector an additional letter to
the statement of objections by which he informs the inspectorate of the corrective measures he
proposes to the National Commission sitting in a restricted formation (hereinafter: the "formation
restricted ") to adopt. In this letter, the head of the investigation proposed to the restricted group
to adopt 4 different corrective measures as well as to impose a fine on the controlled person
administrative costs in the amount of 18,700 euros.
2Objective 2
3Objective 8
4Objective n ° 7
5Objective n ° 10
________________________________________________________________________
Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
survey no. [...] conducted with Company A
3/2110. By letter of September 8, 2020, the inspector sent the head of the investigation his
observations on the additional letter to the statement of objections.
11. The case was on the agenda for the restricted committee session on May 31, 2021.
In accordance with article 10.2. b) the rules of procedure of the National Commission,
the head of investigation and the controlled made oral observations on the case and replied
to the questions asked by the restricted formation. The controlled had the floor last.
II. Place
A. On the failure to publish the contact details of the DPO
1. On the principles
12. Article 37.7 of the GDPR provides for the obligation for the audited body to publish the
contact details of the DPD. Indeed, it follows from Article 38.4 of the GDPR that people
concerned must be able to contact the DPO about all the
questions relating to the processing of their personal data and the exercise of
rights conferred on them by the GDPR.
13. The DPO guidelines explain in this regard that this requirement
aims to ensure that "the persons concerned (both inside and outside
the organization) can easily and directly contact the DPO without having to
contact another department of the organization ". The guidelines also state that
"The contact details of the DPO must contain information enabling people to
concerned to reach it easily (a postal address, a telephone number
6
specific and / or specific e-mail address) ”.
14. In addition, Article 12.1 of the GDPR provides that the controller must take
appropriate measures to provide any information referred to in Articles 13 and 14 of the GDPR
with regard to the processing to the data subject in a concise, transparent manner,
understandable and easily accessible, in clear and simple terms. From
information that must be transmitted to the person concerned is the relative information
contact details of the DPD, in accordance with Articles 13.1.b) and 14.1.b) of the GDPR.
6WP 243 v.01, version revised and adopted on April 5, 2017, p.15
________________________________________________________________________
Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
the survey no. […] carried out with Company A 4/21 2. In the present case
15. It emerges from the audit report that, in order for the head of the investigation to consider objective 2
as completed by the inspected as part of this audit campaign, he expects
the organization publishes the contact details of its DPO internally within the organization and in
external to the public. The DPO must be able to be contacted easily and directly via a
communication channel adapted to the people concerned. As part of this campaign
audit, active internal communication is expected, particularly via emails,
newsletters, dedicated spaces on the intranet. Externally, it is at least expected that
DPD contact details are easily accessible on the organization's website.
16. According to the statement of objections, page 2: "The investigation showed that the website
public of Company A does not provide the direct contact details of the DPO. In case of questions
or requests from the persons concerned, the website provides a form to
complete and return to a generic email address ([…]) or by post to the address of the
hotline […] or via the secure messaging of […]. "
17. The head of the investigation concludes that "the data subjects external to Company A
cannot contact the DPO directly without having to contact another
agency service. "
18. In its position paper of November 15, 2019, the inspected does not call into question the
findings made by the head of the investigation and indicates that following the breach noted,
a dedicated e-mail address has been created "so that
data subjects can contact the Data Protection Officer directly
("DPD"). »The inspector then specified where the DPD's contact details were published, namely
on its website as well as in its data processing policy
personal.
19. During the meeting of May 31, 2021, the restricted committee noted that the contact details
of the DPD were not mentioned in the section of the controlled website relating to
the exercise of the rights of the persons concerned or in the form below this
section and asked the auditee for further information in this regard. By email from 4
June 2021, the inspected informed the restricted committee of the mention of the DPD's contact details
in this section as well as in the said form.
________________________________________________________________________
Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
survey no. […] conducted with Company A 5/2120. If measures have been taken by the inspector to comply with the obligation to
publication of the contact details of his DPO, it should be noted that these were decided
only under investigation. The restricted training recognizes that at the start of the investigation, the
controlled had not published the contact details of his DPO.
21. In view of the above, the restricted panel concludes that Article 37.7 of the GDPR has no
not respected by the inspected.
B. On the breach of the obligation to involve the DPO in all matters relating to
the protection of personal data
1. On the principles
22. According to article 38.1 of the GDPR, the organization must ensure that the DPO is involved,
in an appropriate and timely manner, in all matters relating to the protection of
personal data.
23. The DPO guidelines state that “[i] t is essential that the DPO,
or his team, is involved from the earliest possible stage in all questions
relating to data protection. [...] Information and consultation of the DPO from the start
will facilitate compliance with the GDPR and encourage an approach based on
data protection by design; it should therefore be the usual procedure in
within the governance of the organization. In addition, it is important that the DPO is considered as
an interlocutor within the organization and that he or she is a member of the dedicated working groups
to data processing activities within the organization ". 7
24. The DPO guidelines provide examples on how to
to ensure this association of the DPO, such as:
invite the DPO to participate regularly in management meetings
upper and intermediate;
to recommend the presence of the DPO when decisions having implications
in terms of data protection are taken;
always take due account of the opinion of the DPO;
7 WP 243 v.01, version revised and adopted on April 5, 2017, p. 16
________________________________________________________________________
Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
investigation no. [...] conducted with Company A 6/21 to immediately consult the DPO in the event of a data breach or other
incident occurs.
25. According to the guidelines for DPOs, the body could, where appropriate,
develop data protection guidelines or programs
indicating the cases in which the DPO must be consulted.
2. In this case
26. It emerges from the audit report that, in order for the investigator to consider objective 8
as completed by the inspected as part of this audit campaign, it expects the
DPD participates in a formalized manner and on the basis of a defined frequency in the
Management, project coordination committees, new product committees,
security committees or any other committee deemed useful in the context of data protection.
27. According to the statement of objections, page 3, “[t] he investigation shows that the DPO
intervenes on invitation or on an ad hoc basis at various internal meetings or committees
which discuss issues or projects with impacts in terms of
data protection, but there is no defined rule or frequency as to the
participation of the DPO in these committees. "The head of the investigation then notes that" [t] he fact that the
DPD participated in two Internal Control Committees (January 2019 and August 2018),
Management Board of November 2017, that he be a permanent guest of the Safety Committee and
that he is involved if a Data Protection aspect concerns a new product is not sufficient to
demonstrate the formal, permanent and regular nature of the DPO's involvement. "
28. In his position paper of 15 November 2019, the inspected indicates that the DPO is
intervened on an ad hoc basis in September 2019 to the “Internal Control Committee” and to the
" Executive Committee ". He then indicates that a "quarterly intervention to the Control Committee
Internal will be implemented and formalized ”in its“ Data protection policy
personal ”.
29. The restricted formation notes that it is rightly specified on page 2 of the
statement of objections (under "preliminary remarks") that "[t] he requirements of the GDPR
are not always strictly defined. In such a situation, it is up to the authorities to
control to verify the proportionality of the measures put in place by those responsible for
________________________________________________________________________
Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
survey no. [...] conducted with Company A 7/21 processing with regard to the sensitivity of the data processed and the risks incurred by the
persons concerned. "
30. However, the restricted committee notes that it is also specified on page 2 of the
statement of objections that the audited has approximately […] employees and […] customers. Leader
investigation concludes that the inspected process a significant amount of personal data. The
restricted formation shares this assessment and therefore considers that the participation
formalized and systematic of the DPO at the relevant meetings, as expected by the
investigation lead, constitutes a proportionate measure in order to ensure the association of the DPO with
all questions relating to the protection of personal data.
31. The restricted committee takes note of the fact that in its response of September 8, 2020
to the letter supplementing the statement of objections, the inspector provided "elements
additional information (...) in order to respond to the corrective measures proposed by
the head of investigation ", concerning in particular the involvement of the DPO in all questions
relating to data protection. The inspected provided a list of 6 committees (concerning
the areas of IT, risk management and subcontracting) of which the DPD is a member
permanent as well as indications on the interventions / participations of the DPD in other
committees and meetings (namely the “[…]” Committee, the “[…]” meetings and the Control Committee
internal "in order to present the quarterly activity report or any other subject that it deems
necessary ").
32. While these measures should facilitate the involvement of the DPO in all matters relating to
data protection, it should nevertheless be noted that these have been decided
under investigation. The restricted committee therefore considers that, at the start of the investigation, the
controller has not been able to demonstrate that the DPO was associated with
in an appropriate manner to all matters relating to the protection of personal data.
33. In view of the above, the restricted panel concludes that Article 38.1 of the GDPR has no
not respected by the inspected.
C. On the breach of the obligation to guarantee the autonomy of the DPO
1. On the principles
________________________________________________________________________
Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
survey no. […] carried out with Company A 8/2134. According to Article 38.3 of the GDPR, the body must ensure that the DPO "does not
receive no instructions with regard to the exercise of the missions ”. In addition, the DPD
"Reports directly to the highest level of management" of the organization.
35. Recital (97) of the GDPR further states that DPOs “should be able to
to exercise their functions and missions in complete independence ”.
8
36. According to the guidelines on DPOs, Article 38.3 of the GDPR "provides for
certain basic guarantees intended to ensure that DPOs are able to exercise
their missions with a sufficient degree of autonomy within their organization. […] That
means that, in carrying out their duties under Article 39, DPOs must not
receive instructions on how to handle a case, for example, what the outcome should be
obtained, how to investigate a complaint or whether to consult the supervisory authority.
In addition, they cannot be required to take a certain point of view on any issue related to
data protection legislation, for example, a particular interpretation
law. […] If the controller or processor takes decisions that are
incompatible with the GDPR and the opinion of the DPO, the latter should be able to indicate
clearly his opinion diverges at the highest level of management and at decision-makers. In this
In this regard, Article 38 (3) provides that the DPO "shall report directly to the level
higher of the management of the controller or the processor ”. Such surrender
direct account ensures that senior management (e.g. board of directors) has
knowledge of the opinions and recommendations of the DPO which fall within the framework of
task of the latter consisting in informing and advising the controller or the
subcontracting. The preparation of an annual report on the activities of the DPO for the level
higher management is another example of direct accountability. "
2. In this case
37. It emerges from the audit report that, in order for the investigator to consider objective 7
as completed by the inspected as part of this audit campaign, it expects the
DPD is "attached to the highest level of management in order to guarantee as much as possible
autonomy ”.
8WP 243 v.01, version revised and adopted on April 5, 2017, p. 17 and 18
________________________________________________________________________
Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
survey no. […] carried out with Company A 9/2138. According to the Statement of Objections, page 4, "During the investigation, the officers of the
CNPD noted the existence of several hierarchical intermediaries between the DPO and the
Direction. In fact, the DPO is attached to a person from the “[…]” department who is
even attached to a person from the “[…]” department who is himself attached to the Chief
Compliance Officer. Although the DPO can intervene on an ad hoc basis in the Executive Committee
and to the Internal Control Committee at its request and at any time, the reporting line
management and therefore access to the latter are not direct and permanent. "
39. In his letter of September 8, 2020, the inspected indicated that in order to guarantee
the autonomy of the DPD: "i. the DPD function was hierarchically attached to the Chief
Group Compliance Officer (CCO) As of January 15, 2020. ii. CCO is invited
of the Executive Committee of Company A since October 1, 2018 (no intermediary
hierarchical between the DPO and the highest level of Management) and reports directly to the
Chief Executive Officer, as well as to the Chairman of the Board of Directors. iii. A report
quarterly activity on data protection is presented by the DPO to […] composed
part of the Executive Committee). The inspected also indicates that meetings
weekly are organized between the DPD and the CCO.
40. If it does not follow from the provisions of the GDPR that the DPO must necessarily be
attached to the highest level of management in order to guarantee its autonomy, training
restricted however recalls that it noted in point 29 of this decision that it is
rightly specified on page 2 of the statement of objections (under "preliminary remarks
") That" [t] he requirements of the GDPR are not always strictly defined. In such
situation, it is up to the supervisory authorities to verify the proportionality of the measures
in place by data controllers with regard to the sensitivity of the data processed
and the risks incurred by the persons concerned. "
41. However, as mentioned in point 30 of this decision, the formation
restricted shares the assessment of the head of the investigation, mentioned on page 2 of the
statement of objections, according to which the inspected processes a significant amount of data
personal. The restricted committee therefore considers that, in the absence of other measures
which would make it possible to demonstrate that direct accountability to the highest level
management is formalized, the hierarchical reporting of the DPO to the highest level of
direction, as expected by the head of the investigation, is a proportionate measure to
guarantee its autonomy.
________________________________________________________________________
Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
survey no. […] carried out with Company A 10/2142. In this regard, the restricted committee notes that at the time of the opening of the investigation,
the DPO was not attached to the highest level of management and it has not been demonstrated
by the controlled as direct reporting to the highest level of management
was formalized.
43. In view of the above, the restricted panel concludes that Article 38.3 of the GDPR has no
not respected by the inspected.
D. On the breach relating to the DPO's control mission
1. On the principles
44. According to section 39.1. b) of the GDPR, the DPO has, among other things, the task of "controlling the
compliance with this Regulation, other provisions of Union or State law
members in terms of data protection and internal rules of the controller
processing or subcontractor with regard to the protection of personal data, including
including with regard to the division of responsibilities, awareness raising and training
personnel participating in processing operations, and the related audits ”. the
recital (97) specifies that the DPO should help the body to verify compliance, at the level
internal, of the GDPR.
45. It follows from the guidelines on DPOs that the DPO can, within the framework
of these control tasks, in particular:
collect information to identify processing activities;
analyze and verify the compliance of processing activities;
inform and advise the controller or the processor and formulate
recommendations to him.
2. In this case
46. It emerges from the audit report that, in order for it to be able to consider objective 10 as fulfilled
by the control as part of this audit campaign, the head of the investigation expects that
"The organization has a formalized data protection control plan
(even if it is not yet executed) ”.
9WP 243 v.01, version revised and adopted on April 5, 2017, p. 20
________________________________________________________________________
Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
survey no. […] carried out with Company A 11/2147. According to the statement of objections, p. 5, “[i] t emerges from the investigation that the organization does not
has no control plan. Although the organization informed the CNPD that controls
relating to data protection are under construction, that they will be integrated into
the Compliance Monitoring program and that recourse to external assistance is envisaged
to build this monitoring program, the organization did not carry out the
control at the time of the survey. "
48. In his letter of September 8, 2020, the inspected indicated that he “asked for help from
consultants for the development of a control plan […] ”and that“ [this] [plan] was finalized in
[d] December 2019 and is applicable in 2020 ”. The inspected further indicates that in "April 2019
Internal Audit [of the controlled] (3rd line of defense) carried out a mission on the implementation
of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 which gave rise to recommendations. »The precise control
also that "controls have been carried out or are in the process of being carried out by the DPO",
in particular the review of the processing register and the review of the contractual clauses relating to
data protection. The inspected finally indicates that “in accordance with article 25 of
regulation, the principles of "data protection by design and protection of
default data ”have been set up as a priori control for the implementation of
new processing of personal data. "
49. The restricted committee notes that article 39.1 of the GDPR lists the missions that
the DPO must at least be entrusted with the task of monitoring compliance with the GDPR, without
however, require the body to put in place specific measures to ensure that the
DPD can accomplish its control mission. Guidelines for DPOs
indicate in particular that the keeping of the register of processing activities referred to in Article 30 of the
GDPR can be entrusted to the DPD and that "[this] register should be considered as one of the
tools enabling the DPO to carry out his duties of monitoring compliance with the GDPR as well as
10
information and advice from the controller or processor. "
50. It emerges from the respondent's responses to the preliminary questionnaire that, from the start of
the investigation, the DPD's task was to "coordinate the documentation of the treatments in the
register ”. The restricted committee nevertheless notes that this element taken in isolation is not sufficient
not to demonstrate that the task of monitoring compliance with the GDPR could have been carried out
adequately.
10WP 243 v.01, version revised and adopted on April 5, 2017, p. 22
11Response of the inspected on 09/28/2018 to the preliminary questionnaire (question 5.d).
________________________________________________________________________
Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
survey no. [...] conducted with Company A
12/2151. The restricted committee recalls that it noted in point 29 of this decision
that it is rightly specified on page 2 of the statement of objections (under "remarks
preliminary ”) that“ [t] he requirements of the GDPR are not always strictly defined.
In such a situation, it is up to the supervisory authorities to verify the proportionality of the
measures put in place by data controllers with regard to the sensitivity of
data processed and the risks incurred by the data subjects. "
52. However, as mentioned in point 30 of this decision, the formation
restricted shares the assessment of the head of the investigation, mentioned on page 2 of the
statement of objections, according to which the inspected processes a significant amount of data
personal.
53. The restricted committee therefore considers that the control mission carried out
by the DPO to the inspected should be sufficiently formalized, for example by a plan
data protection control, in order to be able to demonstrate that the DPO
can perform its task of monitoring compliance with the GDPR in an adequate manner.
54. The restricted committee takes note of the elements communicated by the inspected in
his letter of September 8, 2020 concerning the development of a control plan finalized in
December 2019 and its application in 2020.
55. Nevertheless, the restricted committee notes that this control plan was established after
the start of the investigation and therefore considers that at the start of the investigation, the control was not
able to demonstrate that the DPO carries out his duties of monitoring compliance with the GDPR
in a manner suited to their needs.
56. In view of the foregoing, the Select Committee concludes that Article 39.1. b) of the GDPR
was not respected by the controlled.
III. On corrective measures and the fine
A. Principles
57. In accordance with article 12 of the law of 1 August 2018 on the organization of
National Commission for Data Protection and General Protection Regime
data, the National Commission has the powers provided for in Article 58.2 of the GDPR:
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Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
investigation no. [...] carried out with Company A 13/21 a) notify a data controller or a subcontractor of the fact that the
planned treatment are likely to violate the provisions of this
regulation;
b) call to order a controller or a processor when the
processing operations have resulted in a violation of the provisions of this
regulation;
c) order the controller or processor to comply with the requests
presented by the data subject in order to exercise their rights under the
this regulation;
d) order the controller or processor to put the data processing operations
processing in accordance with the provisions of these regulations, if applicable,
in a specific manner and within a specified timeframe;
e) order the controller to communicate to the data subject a
personal data breach;
f) impose a temporary or permanent limitation, including a ban, on the
processing;
g) order the rectification or erasure of personal data or the
restriction of processing in application of Articles 16, 17 and 18 and the notification of these
measures to the recipients to whom the personal data have been
disclosed in accordance with Article 17, paragraph 2, and Article 19;
h) withdraw a certification or order the certification body to withdraw a
certification issued in application of Articles 42 and 43, or order the
certification not to issue certification if the requirements applicable to the
certification are not or no longer satisfied;
i) impose an administrative fine in application of Article 83, in addition to or
the place of the measures referred to in this paragraph, depending on the characteristics
specific to each case;
j) order the suspension of data flows addressed to a recipient located in a
third country or to an international organization. "
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Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
survey no. […] conducted with Company A 14/2158. Article 83 of the GDPR provides that each supervisory authority ensures that
administrative fines imposed are, in each case, effective, proportionate and
dissuasive, before specifying the elements that must be taken into account in deciding whether there
to impose an administrative fine and to decide on the amount of this fine:
(a) the nature, gravity and duration of the breach, taking into account the nature, extent or
the purpose of the processing concerned, as well as the number of data subjects
affected and the level of damage they suffered;
(b) whether the violation was committed willfully or negligently;
c) any measures taken by the controller or processor to mitigate the
damage suffered by the persons concerned;
d) the degree of responsibility of the controller or processor, account
taking into account the technical and organizational measures they have implemented in accordance with the
Articles 25 and 32;
e) any relevant breach previously committed by the controller or
the subcontractor ;
f) the degree of cooperation established with the supervisory authority in order to remedy the violation
and mitigate any negative effects;
g) the categories of personal data affected by the breach;
h) the manner in which the supervisory authority became aware of the breach, in particular whether,
and to what extent the controller or processor has notified the
violation;
(i) where measures referred to in Article 58 (2) have previously been
ordered against the controller or the processor concerned for the
same object, compliance with these measures;
j) the application of codes of conduct approved in accordance with Article 40 or
certification mechanisms approved under Article 42; and
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Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
investigation no. [...] carried out with Company A 15/21 k) any other aggravating or mitigating circumstance applicable to the circumstances of
the species, such as financial benefits obtained or losses avoided, directly or
indirectly, as a result of the violation ”.
59. The restricted panel would like to point out that the facts taken into account in the context of the
this decision are those noted at the start of the investigation. Any modifications
relating to the subject of the investigation carried out subsequently, even if they make it possible to establish
fully or partially compliance, do not allow retroactive cancellation of a
breach noted.
60. Nevertheless, the steps taken by the inspected to bring themselves into compliance
with the GDPR during the investigation procedure or to remedy breaches
noted by the head of investigation in the statement of objections are taken into account by the
limited training in the context of any corrective measures to be taken.
B. In this case
1. As to the imposition of an administrative fine
61. In his additional letter to the statement of objections of 3 August 2020, the
investigator proposes to the restricted formation to pronounce against the controlled a
administrative fine relating to the amount of 18,700 euros.
62. In order to decide whether to impose an administrative fine and to decide, if
of the amount of this fine, the restricted committee analyzes the criteria set by
Article 83.2 of the GDPR:
- As to the nature and seriousness of the violation [article 83.2 a) of the GDPR], with regard to
breaches of articles 37.7, 38.1, 38.3, and 39.1.b) of the GDPR, restricted training
notes that the appointment of a DPO by an organization cannot be efficient and effective,
know how to facilitate compliance with the GDPR by the organization, only in the case where people
concerned have the possibility of easily finding the contact details of the DPO in order to be able to
contact the DPO on all questions relating to the processing of their
personal data and the exercise of their rights, where the DPO is involved from the
as early as possible in all data protection matters,
be able to exercise their functions and missions in complete independence, and be able to exercise
effective its missions, in particular the task of monitoring compliance with the GDPR.
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Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
the survey no. [...] carried out with Company A 16 / 21- As for the duration criterion [article 83.2.a) of the GDPR], the restricted training falls under:
(1) That the controlled indicated in its position paper of November 15, 2019 that a
dedicated e-mail address has been created "so that data subjects can
contact the Data Protection Officer directly ”and that the contact details
of the DPD have been published on its website as well as in its policy on
processing of personal data. The breach of Article 37.7 of the GDPR therefore
lasted over time, at least between May 25, 2018 and November 2019.
(2) That it was decided by the inspectorate to take appropriate measures to facilitate
the involvement of the DPO in all matters relating to data protection,
which are described in his letter of September 8, 2020. The failure to
Article 38.1 of the GDPR therefore lasted over time, at least between May 25, 2018
and September 2020;
(3) That the elements communicated by the inspected during the investigation, and in particular
by email of June 4, 2021 following the meeting of May 31, 2021, do not allow
demonstrate that the DPO would be able to report directly to the highest
management level in a formalized manner. Breach of Article 38.3 of the GDPR
therefore lasted over time, from 25 May 2018, it being specified that the training
Restricted could not find that the breach has ended;
(4) That a control plan was finalized in December 2019 and applied in 2020. The
breach of Article 39.1.b) of the GDPR therefore lasted over time, at the very least
between May 25, 2018 and December 2019.
63. The restricted committee notes that the other criteria of Article 83.2 of the GDPR do not
are neither relevant nor likely to influence his decision on whether to impose a fine
administrative and its amount.
64. The restricted committee notes that if several measures have been decided by the inspected
in order to remedy the shortcomings, they were not decided until after the launch of
the investigation by CNPD agents on September 17, 2018 (see also point 59 of
this decision).
65. Therefore, the restricted panel considers that the imposition of a fine
administrative procedure is justified with regard to the criteria set out in Article 83.2 of the GDPR for
breach of Articles 37.7, 38.1, 38.3 and 39.1.b) of the GDPR.
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Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
survey no. […] carried out with Company A 17/2166. Regarding the amount of the administrative fine, the restricted panel recalls that
Article 83.3 of the GDPR provides that in the event of multiple violations, as is the case in
the case, the total amount of the fine may not exceed the amount set for the most serious violation
serious. Insofar as a breach of Articles 37.7, 38.1, 38.3, and 39.1.b) of the GDPR
is accused of the inspected, the maximum amount of the fine that can be withheld is 10
million euros or 2% of annual worldwide turnover, whichever is greater
retained.
67. In view of the relevant criteria of Article 83.2 of the GDPR mentioned above, the
restricted committee considers that the pronouncement of a fine of 18,700 euros appears in the
both effective, proportionate and dissuasive, in accordance with the requirements of Article 83.1 of the GDPR.
2. Regarding the taking of corrective measures
68. In his additional letter to the statement of objections of 3 August 2020, the
survey leader suggests that the restricted group take corrective measures
following:
"A) Order the publication of the contact details of the data protection officer
in accordance with the requirements of article 37 paragraph 7 of the GDPR and the lines
DPD guidelines of the Article 29 working group on the protection of
data which indicates that data subjects should be able to easily and
contact the DPO directly without having to contact another
the body. Thus, one of the ways to achieve this result would be to publish the
contact details of the DPO on the public website of [Company A] insofar as this does not
would not already be.
b) Order the implementation of measures ensuring an association of the DPO to all
data protection issues, in accordance with the requirements of
Article 38 paragraph 1 of the GDPR. Although several ways can be
envisaged to achieve this result, one of the possibilities could be to analyze,
with the DPO, all relevant committees / working groups with regard to protection
data and formalize the modalities of its intervention (previous information
with the agenda of meetings, invitation, frequency, permanent member status,
etc ....).
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Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
survey no. [...] conducted with Company A 18/21 c) Order the establishment of a mechanism guaranteeing the DPO's autonomy
in accordance with the requirements of Art.38 para.3 GDPR. Several
measures can be considered to achieve this result, such as
attachment of the DPO to the highest level of management in order to guarantee as much as possible
its autonomy or the creation of a formal and regular direct reporting line,
as well as an emergency escalation mechanism to the management to bypass
the intermediate hierarchical level (s).
d) Order the deployment of the control mission, in accordance with article 39
paragraph 1 b) of the GDPR. The DPO should therefore document his controls relating to
the application of internal data protection rules and procedures
(second line of defense). This documentation could take the form of a plan
control insofar as this has not already been done. "
69. As for the corrective measures proposed by the head of the investigation and by reference to the
point 60 of this decision, the restricted committee takes into account the procedures
carried out by the inspected in order to comply with the provisions of articles 37.7, 38.1, 38.3,
and 39.1.b) of the GDPR, in particular the measures described in his letter of November 15, 2019
and in its letter of September 8, 2020. More particularly, it takes note of the facts
following:
- With regard to the violation of article 37.7 of the GDPR, the restricted committee notes
that a dedicated e-mail address has been created and that the DPO's contact details have been published
on the website of the inspected as well as in its policy on handling
personal data. The restricted formation therefore considers that there is no need to
pronounce the corrective measure proposed by the head of investigation under a) of point 68 of the
this decision.
- With regard to the violation of article 38.1 of the GDPR, the restricted committee notes
that it was decided by the inspectorate to take appropriate measures to facilitate
involving the DPO in all matters relating to data protection. The
restricted party therefore considers that there is no need to pronounce the measure
corrective measure proposed by the head of investigation under b) of point 68 of this decision.
- With regard to the violation of article 38.3 of the GDPR, the restricted committee notes
that the elements communicated by the inspected during the investigation, and in particular by
email of June 4, 2021 following the meeting of May 31, 2021, do not allow to demonstrate
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Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
the survey no. [...] conducted with Company A 19/21 that the DPD would be able to report directly to the highest level of the
direction in a formalized manner. The restricted formation therefore considers that it is necessary to
pronounce the corrective measure proposed by the head of investigation under c) of point 68 of the
this decision.
- With regard to the violation of Article 39.1.b) of the GDPR, the restricted committee falls under
that a control plan was finalized in December 2019 and applied in 2020. The training
therefore considers that there is no need to take the corrective measure
proposed by the head of investigation under d) of point 68 of this decision.
In view of the foregoing developments, the National Commission sitting
in restricted formation and deliberating unanimously decides:
- to retain the breaches of articles 37.7, 38.1, 38.3 and 39.1.b) of the GDPR;
- to pronounce against Company A an administrative fine in the amount of ten-
eight thousand seven hundred euros (18,700 euros) with regard to the violation of articles 37.7, 38.1, 38.3
and 39.1.b) of the GDPR;
- to issue an injunction against Company A to comply with
Article 38.3 of the GDPR within four months of the notification of the decision of the
limited training, in particular:
ensure the establishment and maintenance of a formal mechanism guaranteeing autonomy
of the DPD.
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Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
survey no. [...] conducted with Company A 20/21 As decided in Belvaux on October 27, 2021.
The National Commission for Data Protection sitting in a restricted body
Tine A. Larsen Thierry Lallemang Marc Lemmer
President Commissioner Commissioner
Indication of remedies
This administrative decision may be the subject of an appeal for reformation within three
months following its notification. This appeal is to be brought before the administrative tribunal and must
must be introduced through a lawyer at the Court of one of the Bar Associations.
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Decision of the National Commission sitting in restricted formation on the outcome of
survey no. [...] conducted with Company A 21/21
