Chapter 13 (Supervision & Enforcement) Flashcards
What is one of the most effective tools of supervision and enforcement of the GDPR and why?
Self regulation due to the fact that controllers and processors directly control the application of appropriate processes, procedures, and measures to protect data.
What Articles of the GDPR advance the ideas of self regulation?
- Article 5(2): concept of accountability
- Articles 37-39: introduction of requirement for DPOs
- Articles 40-43: heightens focus on codes of conduct and certification schemes for data protection deals and marks
- Article 28: controllers must regulate their processors and processors must regulate their sub-processors
What is the intent of Chapter 4 of the GDPR?
It expands Article 5(2)’s accountability requirement and its intent is that controllers will identify their risks, then set their positions to address them.
What are 4 components of the GDPR that relate to self regulation?
- As part of their business-as-usual activities, controllers should look critically at their data processing activities through performance testing and adjust and refine its activities as needed to achieve good data protection.
- Article 28 creates relationships of supervision and enforcement between controllers and their processors.
- Articles 33 and 34 require notification of personal data breaches to DPAs in all cases where a risk to rights and freedoms is likely and notification to individuals who are affected in serious cases.
- Article 35 requires controllers to perform DPIAs where processing is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms’ of individuals.
Do DPOs look more like quasi regulators or ordinary employees?
More like quasi regulators.
How does Chapter 4 Articles 40-43 of the GDPR create a self-regulatory framework?
By way of codes of conduct and data protection certification mechanisms, such as seals and marks.
Article 40 of the GDPR encourages representative bodies for controllers and processors, like industry associations, to create what in the context of self-regulation?
To create codes of conduct on any aspect of data protection compliance. A key feature is that the controllers and processors that undertake to apply them should be monitored for compliance.
If a representative body creates a code of conduct Article 41 of the GDPR sets out the characteristics and tasks the monitoring body of such a code must exhibit. List 3 of these tasks/characteristics.
- They have to prove their expertise and avoid conflicts
- They must have procedures for effective monitoring of compliance and for dealing with complaints
- They should take appropriate actions against infringements
By approving a representative body’s code of conduct does the relevant DPA abandon their supervisory and enforcement role?
No, they retain their jurisdiction over the subject matter covered by the codes and the controllers and processors that have undertaken to follow them.
In order to issue certified seals or marks under Articles 42 & 43 of the GDPR the certification body must be accredited by whom?
Either the DPAs or the national accreditation bodies in the member states.
In order to be accredited, certification bodies need to satisfy the DPAs that they have what 3 things?
- Independence and expertise and avoid conflicts of interest
- Must have procedures for issuing, reviewing, and revoking seals and marks
- Must have procedures for handling complaints
If controllers and processors provide the first line of defense against bad data protection, who provides the second line of defense?
The citizens.
Does the GDPR require that individuals must use and pursue their data subject rights against controllers before they can pursue complaints and remedies before the DPAs or the courts?
No.
What Articles of the GDPR govern situations where individuals want to take their complaints of controllers noncompliance to the DPAs or courts?
Articles 77 and 79.
Article 77(1) of the GDPR allows individuals to pursue noncompliance complaints before DPAs located in what 3 jurisdictions?
- DPA for their place of residence
- DPA for their place of work
- DPA for the place where the infringement took place
If each of the above places is different.
What are representative actions and what is their benefit?
They are group litigation or class actions whereby groups of individuals are represented as a collective before the courts, thereby spreading the financial risks, leveraging collective case info, and likely securing more experienced legal representation.
The GDPR introduces new representative action rights under Article 80 that allow individuals to elect to be represented by whom?
Not-for-profit orgs commonly known as CSOs (i.e. privacy advocates or pressure groups)
Article 82 of the GDPR creates the right for citizens to pursue compensation claims against whom under what circumstances?
Against controllers and processors if they suffer damage as a result of an act of noncompliance.
Under the GDPR are damages limited to financial loss?
No, damages can include no material damages such as distress.
What remedy does Article 78 of the GDPR provide if an individual puts a complaint before a DPA that isn’t dealt with or acknowledged within 3 months?
In this circumstance an individual is entitled to take action against the DPA before the courts to force the issue.
Who are the only bodies that are equipped with administrative supervisory and enforcement powers under the GDPR?
DPAs
The GDPR’s provisions on administrative supervision are found in what chapter?
Chapter 6
Article 36(4) of the GDPR contains a structural control - a consultation requirement - that effectively embeds what in the law making process of the member states?
The national regulator, i.e. it embeds data protection in the DNA of member states’ laws at the beginning of the legislative and rule-making process.
Which article of the GDPR outlines the tasks of the DPAs?
Article 57
Article 57 of the GDPR states that in addition to monitoring and enforcing the GDPR and providing advice to their national parliaments and governments DPAs must do what 4 things?
- Promote awareness and understanding of data protection, including risks, safeguards, and rights
- Handle complaints and carry out investigations
- Support the consistent application of the GDPR internationally, which includes working within the consistency mechanism, providing mutual assistance, and supporting the EDPB
- Monitor and development of info and communications technologies and commercial practices
Articles 35(4), 35(5), and 36(1) outline what three things with regard to DPIAs respectively?
-
Article 35(4): requires DPAs to publish a list of situations where DPIAs should be carried out
2.Article 35(5): allows DPAs to publish a list of situations where DPIAs are not required - Article 36(1): requires controllers to consult with their DPAs whenever a DPIA indicates that the processing would result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals in the absence of measures taken by the controller to mitigate the risk
What are the 3 powers of the DPAs listed in Article 58 of the GDPR?
- Investigatory powers
- Corrective powers
- Authorization& advisory powers
The DPAs’ investigatory powers are intended to give them access to what?
They are intended to give them access to all necessary:
1. Evidence
2. Materials
3. Facilities
To enable them to deliver their tasks, together with a mechanism to actually start investigations (namely the power to notify controllers and processors of alleged breaches of the GDPR).
When conducting an investigation what 6 types of documents are DPAs likely to seek?
- Policy frameworks built under Article 24
- Privacy-by-design frameworks pursuant to Article 25
- Processor contracts under Article 28
- Records of data processing activities compiled under Article 30
- Breach logs maintained under Article 33
- Risk assessments taken for the purposes of Articles 24 and 35
What 2 lines of attack do DPAs have if they are determined to pursue a controller or processor for noncompliance under the GDPR?
- Data protection written system
- Data protection business operations
Article 54(2) imposes what type of obligation on the DPAs and their staff in respect of confidential info to which they have access?
Imposes obligations of professional secrecy.