Bodobalazs: 1 revision imported: GDPRHUB import 2023 04 18

2023-04-18T15:01:42Z

1 revision imported: GDPRHUB import 2023 04 18

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![[Article 77 GDPR|←]] Article 78 - Right to an effective judicial remedy against a supervisory authority [[Article 79 GDPR|→]]
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<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<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" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<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" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<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 mw-collapsed" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<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" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<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" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<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" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<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" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<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" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<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" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<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" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<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 78 - Right to an effective judicial remedy against a supervisory authority'''</center>

<span id="1">1. Without prejudice to any other administrative or non-judicial remedy, each natural or legal person shall have the right to an effective judicial remedy against a legally binding decision of a supervisory authority concerning them.</span>

<span id="1">2. Without prejudice to any other administrative or non-judicial remedy, each data subject shall have the right to a an effective judicial remedy where the supervisory authority which is competent pursuant to Articles 55 and 56 does not handle a complaint or does not inform the data subject within three months on the progress or outcome of the complaint lodged pursuant to Article 77.</span>

<span id="1">3. Proceedings against a supervisory authority shall be brought before the courts of the Member State where the supervisory authority is establishedition</span>

<span id="1">4. Where proceedings are brought against a decision of a supervisory authority which was preceded by an opinion or a decision of the Board in the consistency mechanism, the supervisory authority shall forward that opinion or decision to the court.</span>

== Relevant Recitals==
{{Recital/143 GDPR}}{{Recital/144 GDPR}}{{Recital/145 GDPR}}

== Commentary ==
Article 78 GDPR provides for judicial redress against a supervisory authority’s (“''SA''”) decision (Article 78(1) GDPR) or its inactivity (Article 78(2) GDPR). The legal redress must be filed with the competent courts of the Member State where the SA is established.<blockquote><u>EDPB Guidelines</u>: on this article, please see [https://edpb.europa.eu/our-work-tools/our-documents/guidelines/guidelines-062022-practical-implementation-amicable_en Guidelines 06/2022 for the practical application of the amicable settlement]</blockquote>

=== (1) Right to Judicial Remedy against DPA Decision ===
Article 78(1) GDPR has two requirements: (1) A natural or legal person must be concerned by (2) a legally binding decision of a SA.

==== Concerned Legal or Natural Person ====
Article 78(1) GDPR addresses both natural and legal persons as potential claimants for a legal action against a SA decision. A natural person under that provision is usually a data subject (see Article 4(1) GDPR), although it is also possible that a controller or processor is a natural person. A legal person would usually be the controller or processor with regard to a certain processing activity or a legal entity that is otherwise concerned (see below) by a binding SA decision. The term “''legal person''” also encompasses other public authorities/bodies, as SAs can issue decisions with legal effect on such entities.<ref>''Mundil'' in BeckOK DatenschutzR'','' Article 78 GDPR, margin number 8 (C.H. Beck 2020, 36th edition); ''Körffer'' in Paal, Pauly, DS-GVO BDSG, Article 78 GDPR, margin number 2, C.H. (C.H. Beck 2021, 3rd edition).</ref>

The natural or legal person must be concerned by the SA decision. This is the case if the natural or legal person (i) has been a party to the proceedings before the SA, either as a complainant or respondent, (ii) has been subject to ex-officio investigations by the SA, (iii) has been fined under Article 83 GDPR or (iv) is subject to a penalty under Article 84 GDPR.

If a data subject’s personal data is otherwise affected by the SA decision (e.g. in case of a data breach in which the data subject’s data was disclosed) they are also concerned by the SA decision. Bergt argues that a data subject could even bring a legal action if a SA rejects the complaint of another data subject on the general illegitimacy of a certain processing activity that also affects the data subject.<ref>''Bergt'' in Kühling, Buchner, DS-GVO BDSG, Article 78 GDPR, margin number 10 (C.H. Beck 2020, 3rd edition).</ref> A controller or processor is also concerned by a SA decision that addresses a third party or does not have an addressee but has a legally binding general effect<ref>''Bergt'' in Kühling, Buchner, DS-GVO BDSG, Article 78 GDPR, margin number 10 (C.H. Beck 2020, 3rd edition); ''Pötters'' in Gola DS-GVO, Article 78 GDPR, margin number 10 (C.H. Beck, 2018, 2<sup>nd</sup> edition).</ref> such as for example a SA’s orders regarding withdrawal or non-issuing of certifications under Articles 58(2)(h), 42 and 43 GDPR.<ref>''Boehm'', in Simitis, Hornung, Spiecker, Datenschutzrecht, Article 78 GDPR, margin numbers 6-19 (C.H. Beck 2019, 1st edition)</ref>

==== Legally Binding Decision ====
Article 78(1) GDPR only allows for remedies against legally binding decisions,<ref>See Rectital 143, sentence 5 GDPR: “''Such a decision concerns in particular the exercise of investigative, corrective and authorisation powers by the supervisory authority or the dismissal or rejection of complaints''.”; ''Bergt'' in Kühling, Buchner, DS-GVO BDSG, Article 78 GDPR, margin number 6 (C.H. Beck 2020, 3rd edition); ''Körffer'' in Paal, Pauly, DS-GVO BDSG, Article 78 GDPR, margin numbers 3-5, (C.H. Beck 2021, 3rd edition).</ref> such as SA decisions on complaints under Article 77 GDPR, decisions following the exercise of a SA's investigative powers under Article 58(1)(a), (b), (c), (e) and (f) GDPR, decisions following the exercise of a SA's corrective powers under Article 58(2) GDPR, decisions on the approval of certain legal acts, bodies or processing activities under Article 58(3)(c)-(j) GDPR, and decisions following the exercise of powers vested in the SA by Member State law under Article 58(6) GDPR. Mere notifications, opinions or advisory acts, such as under Articles 58(1)(d) or 58(3)(a) and (b) GDPR do not qualify as decisions and cannot be subject to legal actions under Article 78(1) GDPR.<ref>See Recital 143, sentence 7 GDPR: “''However, the right to an effective judicial remedy does not encompass measures taken by supervisory authorities which are not legally binding, such as opinions issued by or advice provided by the supervisory authority''.”</ref>

=== (2) Right to Judicial Remedy Against DPA Inactivity ===
A data subject has the right to an effective judicial remedy where the SA that is competent under Articles 55 and 56 GDPR (i) does not handle a complaint or (ii) fails to inform the data subject within three months on the progress or outcome of a complaint.<ref>Article 78(2) GDPR provides a legal remedy only for data subjects (but not for other parties such a controller). See, among the others, ''Bergt'' in Kühling, Buchner, DS-GVO BDSG, Article 78 GDPR, margin number 16 (C.H. Beck 2020, 3rd edition).</ref>

==== SA Competent under Article 55 and 56 GDPR ====
Article 78(2) GDPR imposes a duty to act on both the SA under Article 55 GDPR and the lead supervisory authority (“''LSA''”) that is competent under Article 56 GDPR. This includes the following scenarios: The SA that is competent to handle the case under Article 55(1) or (2) GDPR or under Article 56(5) GDPR (“''local SA''”) does not handle the complaint. The local SA does not inform the data subject within three months on the progress or outcome of the complaint. The SA that is competent to handle the case under Article 56(1) and (2) GDPR (LSA) does not handle the complaint. The LSA does not inform the data subject within three months on the progress or outcome of the complaint.

==== Non-handling of Complaint by the SA ====
The data subject has the right to an effective judicial remedy if the SA does not handle the complaint. The GDPR contains no definition of the requirement of “''(not) handling''” a complaint, although the term “''not handling a case/complaint''” can be found in other provisions such as Articles 56(2) to (5) GDPR and 57(1)(f) GDPR as well. In particular, under Article 57(1)(f) GDPR, the SA has to “''handle complaints lodged by a data subject'' […], ''and investigate, to the extent appropriate, the subject matter of the complaint'' […]”. Recital 141 GDPR uses the term “''act on a complaint''”.<ref>Recital 141 GDPR: “''Every data subject should have'' […] ''the right to an effective judicial remedy in accordance with Article 47 of the Charter'' […] ''where the supervisory authority does not act on a complaint, partially or wholly rejects or dismisses a complaint or does not act where such action is necessary to protect the rights of the data subject. The investigation following a complaint should be carried out, subject to judicial review, to the extent that is appropriate in the specific case''.”</ref> In light of this, handling a complaint is not the same as making a decision on the merits of the case. Just as in Article 56(5) GDPR (“''LSA not handling the case''”), a SA is not handling a complaint if it fails to act on it by investigating the subject matter of the complaint to the extent appropriate to protect the rights of the data subject. This does not mean that a SA can take an indefinite amount of time to decide on the merits of the case. In light of the principle of effectiveness under Article 4(3) TEU, Articles 8, 41 and 47 CFR, and Article 6 ECHR, the SA must issue a decision within reasonable time. Some Member States foresee decision periods in their national law.<ref>For example, the Austrian SA is under the obligation to decide within six months after receiving the complaint (see § 8 Austrian Administrative Courts Procedural Act (Verwaltungsgerichtsverfahrensgesetz – VwGVG); in Germany, there is a three-month deadline for SAs that can be extended by the court (§ 75 German Administrative Courts Procedural Act (Verwaltungsgerichtsordnung).</ref> A SA’s formal rejection of a complaint does not mean that the SA does “''not handle the complaint''”. Such rejection can be subject to a judicial remedy not under Article 78(2) GDPR but under Article 78(1) GDPR.

==== Lack of Information by the SA ====
Article 78(2) GDPR also provides for a remedy where a SA fails to inform the data subject on the progress or outcome of the complaint lodged pursuant to Article 77 GDPR. This also applies to the local SA and the LSA (Articles 55 and 56 GDPR). The SA with which the complaint has been lodged has a duty to inform the data subject under Article 77(2) GDPR but not under Article 78(2) GDPR – unless it is also competent to handle the case under Article 55 or 56 GDPR. Taking into account Recital 141, sentence 4 GDPR, the SA must provide the information at least every three months (“''If the case requires further investigation or coordination with another supervisory authority, intermediate information should be given to the data subject''”). Consequently, if a SA manages to decide on a complaint within three months or less, it must only inform the data subject on the outcome of the complaint procedure; should the procedure take longer, the SA must proactively provide an update on the state of play every three months. If the SA fails to do so, it can be subject to legal actions under Article 78(2) GDPR.

=== (3) Competent Courts and National Procedural Requirements ===
Under Article 78(3) GDPR, proceedings against a SA shall be brought before the courts of the Member State where the SA is establishedition The procedural details of such judicial remedies are subject to Member State law.<ref>See Recital 143 sentence 7 GDPR</ref> It is up to Member State law to foresee which national court is competent. In some Member States, civil courts are competent for legal remedies under Article 78 GDPR, in other Member States it is administrative courts.

Article 78(1) GDPR requires an ''effective'' judicial remedy – a term already used in Article 47(1) CFR. Hence, the Member State law must not impose inappropriate restrictions that hinder the filing of a remedy under Article 78 GDPR (such as very short deadlines to appeal a SA’s decision under Article 78(2) GDPR).<ref>''Souhrada-Kirchmayer'' in Knyrim, DatKomm Art 78 GDPR, margin number 11 (as of 1.6.2021, rdb.at).</ref> These remedies do not necessarily have to be free of charge, as Article 57(3) GDPR only concerns the performance of the tasks of SAs. However, imposing inadequately high court fees on the claimant – especially if they are a data subject – might violate primary EU law, namely Article 47 CFR in connection with Article 16 TFEU and Article 8 CFR.

In Joined Cases E-11/19 and E-12/1, the EFTA Court held that there are cases in which proceedings under Article 78(1) GDPR that were not initiated by the data subject must be free of charge for the data subject: “''It follows from Articles77(1) and 57(3) of Regulation(EU) 2016/679 that where a data subject becomes a party to proceedings under Article 78(1) as a result of a data controller appealing against a supervisory authority’s decision, and where national law imposes this status on a data subject automatically, the data subject may not be made responsible for any costs incurred in relation to those proceedings''."<ref>''Souhrada-Kirchmayer'' in Knyrim, DatKomm Art 78 GDPR, margin number 11 (as of 1.6.2021, rdb.at).</ref>

=== (4) Information on Preceding EDPB Opinion or Decision ===
If a legal remedy under Article 78(1) GDPR is filed against a SA decision that was preceded by an opinion or a decision of the EDPB in the consistency mechanism (Articles 63 ''et seq.'' GDPR), the SA must forward that opinion or decision to the court that is handling the legal remedy. This provision ensures that the court does not ignore the EDPB’s opinion or decision when assessing the case. As a national court lacks the competence to waive a decision by the EDPB, it must request the CJEU’s preliminary ruling under Article 267 TFEU, if it considers the EDPB’s decision invalid (Recital 143 sentence 11 GDPR). However, the court may not refer a question on the validity of the EDPB decision at the request of a natural or legal person, which had missed the opportunity to bring an action for annulment of the EDBB decision under Article 263 TFEU.<ref>Recital 143 sentence 12 GDPR.</ref>

== Decisions ==
→ You can find all related decisions in [[:Category:Article 78 GDPR]]

== References ==
<references />

[[Category:GDPR Articles]]

Article 78 GDPR - Revision history

Bodobalazs: 1 revision imported: GDPRHUB import 2023 04 18