Data protection - from a brake to a trailblazer?

Data protection and digitalization must not be played off against each other. For far too long, data protection has been used as a killer argument and has blocked innovations and digital projects, said Saxony-Anhalt's Digital Minister Lydia Hüskens (FDP) on the fringes of the first Central German Data Protection Day in Magdeburg. The data protection commissioners of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia emphasized that data protection can be successfully communicated in the economy.

"The more knowledge you have about the topic, the less it is seen as an obstacle," said Saxony-Anhalt's data protection officer Christina Rost. Data protection needs its own lobby. "I would like data protection to form a sensible guard rail for data use and for both to find a balance with each other."

No centralization desired

Independent data protection authorities are essential for this, emphasized Thuringia's data protection officer Tino Melzer. "We are representatives elected by the state parliament and have the special task of independently ensuring data protection," he said. The state authorities not only monitor companies, but also public bodies for compliance with the regulations.

Saxony's data protection officer Juliane Hundert also warned of the consequences of centralization. "Citizens must continue to be able to trust that their data is being processed lawfully in all areas."

The debate is based on the impetus from politics and business to centralize the federally organized state data protection authorities. The data protection officers of the three federal states are critical of such plans. "My wish for the federal legislator would be to urgently reconsider this issue of centralizing data protection supervisory authorities and refrain from doing so," said Rost.

Alternatives to US platforms

The first Central German Data Protection Day brought together over 140 data protection officers from authorities, municipalities and companies. In addition to data sovereignty and administrative digitization, data protection measures for small companies were also discussed.

Another topic was the dependence on non-European technology providers. Data protection authorities are increasingly focusing on data protection-friendly alternatives to commercial platforms such as Facebook and X.