Do you have any questions?

The concept of privacy protection does not only contain the aspect of data protection, but also the protection of persons whose data are being processed. Here do you learn more about e.g.:

• what the Right on Informational Self-Determination is about,
• what rights you have as a citizen,
• or how to protect yourself.

You will find information on the various topics by following the main links in the left navigator window. Additionally, you can use our index as a source of inspiration or make use of our search engine.

If you have detailed questions, e.g. concerning you as a person, you should contact your institution for privacy protecion in command that also monitors the institutions processing your personal data.

Who is responsible for me?

It depends. In Germany the competance depends on who is processing your data: the administration or the economy?

• If your data is being processed by a public institution, the competence rests on the federal offices for privacy protection or the member states' offices for privacy protection. Public institutions of the member states are e.g. the administration of cities, communities and districts, the member state's authorities, and most schools and universities. Federal public institutions are e.g. the federal authorities, employment offices and the German Federal Armed Forces.
• If your data is being processed by a private institution, the competance in most cases rests on the so-called federal surveillance authorities or the member states' surveillance authorities. Private institutions are companies such as mail-order firms, address dealers, credit agencies, internet providers, but also unions, doctors and other professional workers.
• The persons responsible for the monitoring of how personal data is processed by ecclesiastical institutions are the privacy commissioners of the evangelic and the katholic church.
• Public service broadcasting (radio, television) is excluded from the authority of the member states' privacy commissioners for reasons due to constitutional law. In this domain operate special privacy commissioners for public service broadcasting.

More institutions for privacy protection operate in other European countries or, moreover, on an international level.