Bodobalazs: 1 revision imported: GDPRHUB import 2023 04 18

2023-04-18T15:01:37Z

1 revision imported: GDPRHUB import 2023 04 18

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![[Article 37 GDPR|←]] Article 38 - Position of the data protection officer [[Article 39 GDPR|→]]
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<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 1: General provisions</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 1 GDPR|Article 1: Subject-matter and objectives]]<br />
[[Article 2 GDPR|Article 2: Material scope]]<br />
[[Article 3 GDPR|Article 3: Territorial scope]]<br />
[[Article 4 GDPR|Article 4: Definitions]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 2: Principles</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 5 GDPR|Article 5: Principles relating to processing of personal data]]<br />
[[Article 6 GDPR|Article 6: Lawfulness of processing]]<br />
[[Article 7 GDPR|Article 7: Conditions for consent]]<br />
[[Article 8 GDPR|Article 8: Conditions applicable to child’s consent in relation to information society services]]<br />
[[Article 9 GDPR|Article 9: Processing of special categories of personal data]]<br />
[[Article 10 GDPR|Article 10: Processing of personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences]]<br />
[[Article 11 GDPR|Article 11: Processing which does not require identification]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 3: Rights of the data subject</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 12 GDPR|Article 12: Transparent information, communication and modalities for the exercise of the rights of the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 13 GDPR|Article 13: Information to be provided where personal data are collected from the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 14 GDPR|Article 14: Information to be provided where personal data have not been obtained from the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 15 GDPR|Article 15: Right of access by the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 16 GDPR|Article 16: Right to rectification]]<br />
[[Article 17 GDPR|Article 17: Right to erasure (‘right to be forgotten’)]]<br />
[[Article 18 GDPR|Article 18: Right to restriction of processing]]<br />
[[Article 19 GDPR|Article 19: Notification obligation regarding rectification or erasure of personal data or restriction of processing]]<br />
[[Article 20 GDPR|Article 20: Right to data portability]]<br />
[[Article 21 GDPR|Article 21: Right to object]]<br />
[[Article 22 GDPR|Article 22: Automated individual decision-making, including profiling]]<br />
[[Article 23 GDPR|Article 23: Restrictions]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 4: Controller and processor</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 24 GDPR|Article 24: Responsibility of the controller]]<br />
[[Article 25 GDPR|Article 25: Data protection by design and by default]]<br />
[[Article 26 GDPR|Article 26: Joint controllers]]<br />
[[Article 27 GDPR|Article 27: Representatives of controllers or processors not established in the Union]]<br />
[[Article 28 GDPR|Article 28: Processor]]<br />
[[Article 29 GDPR|Article 29: Processing under the authority of the controller or processor]]<br />
[[Article 30 GDPR|Article 30: Records of processing activities]]<br />
[[Article 31 GDPR|Article 31: Cooperation with the supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 32 GDPR|Article 32: Security of processing]]<br />
[[Article 33 GDPR|Article 33: Notification of a personal data breach to the supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 34 GDPR|Article 34: Communication of a personal data breach to the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 35 GDPR|Article 35: Data protection impact assessment]]<br />
[[Article 36 GDPR|Article 36: Prior consultation]]<br />
[[Article 37 GDPR|Article 37: Designation of the data protection officer]]<br />
[[Article 38 GDPR|Article 38: Position of the data protection officer]]<br />
[[Article 39 GDPR|Article 39: Tasks of the data protection officer]]<br />
[[Article 40 GDPR|Article 40: Codes of conduct]]<br />
[[Article 41 GDPR|Article 41: Monitoring of approved codes of conduct]]<br />
[[Article 42 GDPR|Article 42: Certification]]<br />
[[Article 43 GDPR|Article 43: Certification bodies]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 5: Transfers of personal data</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 44 GDPR|Article 44: General principle for transfers]]<br />
[[Article 45 GDPR|Article 45: Transfers on the basis of an adequacy decision]]<br />
[[Article 46 GDPR|Article 46: Transfers subject to appropriate safeguards]]<br />
[[Article 47 GDPR|Article 47: Binding corporate rules]]<br />
[[Article 48 GDPR|Article 48: Transfers or disclosures not authorised by Union law]]<br />
[[Article 49 GDPR|Article 49: Derogations for specific situations]]<br />
[[Article 50 GDPR|Article 50: International cooperation for the protection of personal data]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 6: Supervisory authorities</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 51 GDPR|Article 51: Supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 52 GDPR|Article 52: Independence]]<br />
[[Article 53 GDPR|Article 53: General conditions for the members of the supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 54 GDPR|Article 54: Rules on the establishment of the supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 55 GDPR|Article 55: Competence]]<br />
[[Article 56 GDPR|Article 56: Competence of the lead supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 57 GDPR|Article 57: Tasks]]<br />
[[Article 58 GDPR|Article 58: Powers]]<br />
[[Article 59 GDPR|Article 59: Activity reports]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 7: Cooperation and consistency</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 60 GDPR|Article 60: Cooperation between the lead supervisory authority and the other supervisory authorities concerned]]<br />
[[Article 61 GDPR|Article 61: Mutual assistance]]<br />
[[Article 62 GDPR|Article 62: Joint operations of supervisory authorities]]<br />
[[Article 63 GDPR|Article 63: Consistency mechanism]]<br />
[[Article 64 GDPR|Article 64: Opinion of the Board]]<br />
[[Article 65 GDPR|Article 65: Dispute resolution by the Board]]<br />
[[Article 66 GDPR|Article 66: Urgency procedure]]<br />
[[Article 67 GDPR|Article 67: Exchange of information]]<br />
[[Article 68 GDPR|Article 68: European Data Protection Board]]<br />
[[Article 69 GDPR|Article 69: Independence]]<br />
[[Article 70 GDPR|Article 70: Tasks of the Board]]<br />
[[Article 71 GDPR|Article 71: Reports]]<br />
[[Article 72 GDPR|Article 72: Procedure]]<br />
[[Article 73 GDPR|Article 73: Chair]]<br />
[[Article 74 GDPR|Article 74: Tasks of the Chair]]<br />
[[Article 75 GDPR|Article 75: Secretariat]]<br />
[[Article 76 GDPR|Article 76: Confidentiality]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 8: Remedies, liability and penalties</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 77 GDPR|Article 77: Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 78 GDPR|Article 78: Right to an effective judicial remedy against a supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 79 GDPR|Article 79: Right to an effective judicial remedy against a controller or processor]]<br />
[[Article 80 GDPR|Article 80: Representation of data subjects]]<br />
[[Article 81 GDPR|Article 81: Suspension of proceedings]]<br />
[[Article 82 GDPR|Article 82: Right to compensation and liability]]<br />
[[Article 83 GDPR|Article 83: General conditions for imposing administrative fines]]<br />
[[Article 84 GDPR|Article 84: Penalties]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 9: Specific processing situations</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 85 GDPR|Article 85: Processing and freedom of expression and information]]<br />
[[Article 86 GDPR|Article 86: Processing and public access to official documents]]<br />
[[Article 87 GDPR|Article 87: Processing of the national identification number]]<br />
[[Article 88 GDPR|Article 88: Processing in the context of employment]]<br />
[[Article 89 GDPR|Article 89: Safeguards and derogations relating to processing for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes]]<br />
[[Article 90 GDPR|Article 90: Obligations of secrecy]]<br />
[[Article 91 GDPR|Article 91: Existing data protection rules of churches and religious associations]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 10: Delegated and implementing acts</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 92 GDPR|Article 92: Exercise of the delegation]]<br />
[[Article 93 GDPR|Article 93: Committee procedure]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="border-width: 0px" overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 11: Final provisions</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 94 GDPR|Article 94: Repeal of Directive 95: /46: /EC]]<br />
[[Article 95 GDPR|Article 95: Relationship with Directive 20: 02: /58: /EC]]<br />
[[Article 96 GDPR|Article 96: Relationship with previously concluded Agreements]]<br />
[[Article 97 GDPR|Article 97: Commission reports]]<br />
[[Article 98 GDPR|Article 98: Review of other Union legal acts on data protection]]<br />
[[Article 99 GDPR|Article 99: Entry into force and application]]<br />
</small>
</div>
</div>
|}

==Legal Text==
<br /><center>'''Article 38 - Position of the data protection officer'''</center>

<span id="1">1. The controller and the processor shall ensure that the data protection officer is involved, properly and in a timely manner, in all issues which relate to the protection of personal data.</span>

<span id="2">2. The controller and processor shall support the data protection officer in performing the tasks referred to in Article 39 by providing resources necessary to carry out those tasks and access to personal data and processing operations, and to maintain his or her expert knowledge.</span>

<span id="3">3. The controller and processor shall ensure that the data protection officer does not receive any instructions regarding the exercise of those tasks. He or she shall not be dismissed or penalised by the controller or the processor for performing his tasks. The data protection officer shall directly report to the highest management level of the controller or the processor.</span>

<span id="4">4. Data subjects may contact the data protection officer with regard to all issues related to processing of their personal data and to the exercise of their rights under this Regulation.</span>

<span id="5">5. The data protection officer shall be bound by secrecy or confidentiality concerning the performance of his or her tasks, in accordance with Union or Member State law.</span>

<span id="6">6. The data protection officer may fulfil other tasks and duties. The controller or processor shall ensure that any such tasks and duties do not result in a conflict of interests.</span>

==Relevant Recitals==
{{Recital/97 GDPR}}

==Commentary==
While it brings a novel element, the data protection officer (DPO) role draws inspiration from Regulation 45/2001, which foresaw a similar position for European Union institutions, bodies, and agencies. Indeed, the GDPR’s DPO position shows many common elements with the aforementioned Regulation.<ref>''Alvarez Rigaudias, Spina'', in Kuner, Bygrave, Docksey, The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): A Commentary, Article 38 GDPR, p. 702 (Oxford University Press 2020).</ref> In addition, although Directive 95/46/EC did not require organisations to appoint a DPO, this nevertheless became an increasingly widespread practice in some Member States.<ref>WP29, ‘Guidelines on Data Protection Officers (‘DPOs’)’, 16/EN WP 243 rev.01, 5 April 2017, p. 4 (available [https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/just/document.cfm?doc_id=44100 here]).</ref>

=== (1)(2) The Role of the DPO in the Organisation ===
According to Article 38(1) GDPR, the DPO must be involved in a timely manner in all issues which relate to the protection of personal data. In this context, a timely manner would be the earliest possible stage, ideally at the stage of conceptualising the processing operation.[For example, this could be the design and development of a product, as well as the creation of a new service or modification of an existing one by adding new features.] In any case, the DPO should be involved at a stage when fundamental decisions can still be made.<ref>''Bergt'', in Kühling, Buchner, DS-GVO BDSG, Article 38 GDPR, margin number 14 (C.H. Beck 2020, 3rd Edition).</ref> Among others, the early involvement is also necessary in order to adequately conduct a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) and facilitate a privacy by design approach.<ref>WP29, ‘Guidelines on Data Protection Officers (‘DPOs’)’, 16/EN WP 243 rev.01, 5 April 2017, p. 13 (available [https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/just/document.cfm?doc_id=44100 here]).</ref> DPOs should also be regularly involved in management meetings, and opinions of the DPO should be given due weight. In case management disagrees with the DPO’s opinions, the Article 29 Working Party recommends documenting the reasons for not following the DPO’s position.<ref>WP29, ‘Guidelines on Data Protection Officers (‘DPOs’)’, 16/EN WP 243 rev.01, 5 April 2017, p. 14 (available [https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/just/document.cfm?doc_id=44100 here]).</ref> Indeed, this best practice seems highly important for implementing the principle of accountability ([[Article 24 GDPR|Articles 5(2) and 24 GDPR]]). In any case, the DPO will not be held personally liable for the non-compliance of the organisation.<ref>''Alvarez Rigaudias, Spina'', in Kuner, Bygrave, Docksey, The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): A Commentary, Article 38 GDPR, p. 707 (Oxford University Press 2020).</ref> As reflected in Article 38(2) GDPR, the DPO must be provided with all necessary resources to carry out their tasks, including by having access to personal data and processing operations. Member States cannot limit the controlling competences of the DPO.<ref>''Bergt'', in Kühling, Buchner, DS-GVO BDSG, Article 38 GDPR, margin number 18 (C.H. Beck 2020, 3rd Edition).</ref> In addition, the DPO must be allowed to enter all premises where personal data is or may be processed, including on the premises of data processors.<ref>''Bergt'', in Kühling, Buchner, DS-GVO BDSG, Article 38 GDPR, margin number 20 (C.H. Beck 2020, 3rd Edition).</ref>

=== (3)(5) Independence and Confidentiality ===
According to Article 38(3) GDPR, the DPO’s independence in the organisation must be guaranteed by the controller or processor. In particular, the DPO may not receive any instructions from either of them regarding their tasks, and may not be dismissed or sanctioned for performing these tasks. This extends to the personnel working under the DPO, which should only receive substantive directions from the DPO and not from the controller or processor.<ref>''Bergt'', in Kühling, Buchner, DS-GVO BDSG, Article 38 GDPR, margin number 26 (C.H. Beck 2020, 3rd Edition).</ref> Regarding penalties or sanctions related to the exercise of the DPO’s functions, a broad interpretation must be followed. For example, the DPO may not suffer disadvantages in the form of threats, absence or delay of promotion, or denial from benefits which other employees receive. Regarding the confidentiality requirements of Article 38(5) GDPR, it is worth emphasising that the “''obligation of secrecy/confidentiality does not prohibit the DPO from contacting and seeking advice from the supervisory authority''”.<ref>WP29, ‘Guidelines on Data Protection Officers (‘DPOs’)’, 16/EN WP 243 rev.01, 5 April 2017, p. 18 (available [https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/just/document.cfm?doc_id=44100 here]).</ref> Furthermore, Member States may regulate and limit the confidentiality requirements at the national level, as well as the legal consequences of breaching these requirements.<ref>See [https://gdprhub.eu/Article%2035%20GDPR Article 35(3) GDPR].</ref>
=== (6) Conflicts of Interest ===
Tightly connected to the independence requirement is Article 38(6) GDPR which emphasises that while the DPO may fulfill other tasks and duties, these should not result in a conflict of interest. When interpreting this requirement, the WP29 has stated that the DPO may not hold positions which result in determining the purposes and means of the processing. Examples of such conflicting positions could be “''senior management positions (such as chief executive, chief operating, chief financial, chief medical officer, head of marketing department, head of Human Resources or head of IT departments) but also other roles lower down in the organisational structure if such positions or roles lead to the determination of purposes and means of processing''”.<ref>WP29, ‘Guidelines on Data Protection Officers (‘DPOs’)’, 16/EN WP 243 rev.01, 5 April 2017, p. 16 (available [https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/just/document.cfm?doc_id=44100 here]).</ref> Some commentators also have also interpreted that a possible indicator of a conflict of interest is related to the cases where the DPO may benefit economically from the success of the organisation they are working for.<ref>''Bergt'', in Kühling, Buchner, DS-GVO BDSG, Article 38 GDPR, margin number 41 (C.H. Beck 2020, 3rd Edition).</ref>

==Decisions==
→ You can find all related decisions in [[:Category:Article 38 GDPR]]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:GDPR Articles]]

Article 38 GDPR - Revision history

Bodobalazs: 1 revision imported: GDPRHUB import 2023 04 18