The Debate: A Future Regulatory Structure for Data Protection in Germany

Moderator: Ulrich Baumgartner, CIPP/E, Regional Leader, DACH, IAPP; Partner, Baumgartner Baumann
Undine von Diemar, CIPP/E, Partner, Jones Day
Michael Will, President, Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision

The future structure of data protection authorities in Germany is set for a fundamental change. So far, the GDPR is enforced by 16 state-level supervisory authorities together with a federal supervisory authority with special responsibility. This makes Germany an outlier in the EU. The German government intends to change this structure and to consolidate supervision — together with allocating new oversight responsibilities under the EU AI Act, the Data Act, etc. The panel will explore potential future changes and what they mean in practice for companies and privacy professionals. Hear from the head of one of Germany’s leading supervisory authorities and practitioners on what to expect and how to prepare.

What you will learn: 

• Insights into Germany’s plans to consolidate enforcement and what this shift means for compliance. 
• An understanding of how emerging EU regulations will impact supervisory structures and your company or institution’s responsibilities.