Record number of data breach reports

The number of complaints about data protection continues to rise in Saxony. Last year, data protection officer Juliane Hundert registered around 1,260 complaints and suggestions regarding controls. This represents an increase of eight percent compared to the previous year.

Maximum number of reports of data breaches

A new record was set for reports of data breaches: The 1,000 mark was exceeded for the first time. The majority of these concerned the incorrect dispatch and loss of postal documents. There was also an increase in requests for advice from just under 600 to 740.

"Data protection does not protect data, but people," Hundert clarified. "Human rights are the fundamental values of our democracy and when we data protection officers defend them, we are also defending our democracy." Citizens in Saxony have a good sense of their fundamental rights and their privacy. This is also shown by the annual report on data protection.

AI is one of the most important topics in data protection

Artificial intelligence is one of the most important topics in data protection, said Hundert. The two are not mutually exclusive. The protection of personal data is a fundamental right in Germany and Europe and should not simply be ignored and left to AI companies or the data economy. With the AI Regulation 2024, Europe has created a really important basis for the fundamental rights-oriented handling of AI. It is now up to Germany to bring this regulation to life.

Fines of more than 200,000 euros imposed

In the private sector, Hundert issued 19 fines in the previous year with a total amount of 199,000 euros. Two notices for 120,000 and 22,000 euros were issued to companies that had seriously breached their duty to cooperate with their authority. Two fines of 30,000 and 20,000 euros concerned unlawful surveillance by companies. In the public sector, 43 new proceedings were opened - here the total fines and warnings amounted to a good 14,500 euros.

According to Hundert, her authority's activity report covers a wide range of topics. For example, a case was included in which a public order office illegally photographed so-called parent cabs in front of a school. Tracking and electronic certificates of incapacity for work also played a role.

Sensitive handling of data urged

The commissioner called for sensitive handling of data. "The personal data processed today may be used for other purposes tomorrow, with incalculable consequences for the data subjects. This is why data protection is of immense importance in our information society," said Hundert.