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Chapter VI – Independent supervisory authorities (Art. 51-59)

Art. 51 GDPR - Supervisory authority arrow_right_alt

Art. 52 GDPR - Independence arrow_right_alt

Art. 53 GDPR - General conditions for the members of the supervisory authority arrow_right_alt

Art. 54 GDPR - Rules on the establishment of the supervisory authority arrow_right_alt

Art. 55 GDPR - Competence arrow_right_alt

Art. 56 GDPR - Competence of the lead supervisory authority arrow_right_alt

Art. 57 GDPR - Tasks arrow_right_alt

Art. 58 GDPR - Powers arrow_right_alt

  1. Each supervisory authority shall have all of the following investigative powers:
    1. to order the controller and the processor, and, where applicable, the controller’s or the processor’s representative to provide any information it requires for the performance of its tasks;
    2. to carry out investigations in the form of data protection audits;
    3. to carry out a review on certifications issued pursuant to Article 42(7);
    4. to notify the controller or the processor of an alleged infringement of this Regulation;
    5. to obtain, from the controller and the processor, access to all personal data and to all information necessary for the performance of its tasks;
    6. to obtain access to any premises of the controller and the processor, including to any data processing equipment and means, in accordance with Union or Member State procedural law.
  2. Each supervisory authority shall have all of the following corrective powers:
    1. to issue warnings to a controller or processor that intended processing operations are likely to infringe provisions of this Regulation;
    2. to issue reprimands to a controller or a processor where processing operations have infringed provisions of this Regulation;
    3. to order the controller or the processor to comply with the data subject’s requests to exercise his or her rights pursuant to this Regulation;
    4. to order the controller or processor to bring processing operations into compliance with the provisions of this Regulation, where appropriate, in a specified manner and within a specified period;
    5. to order the controller to communicate a personal data breach to the data subject;
    6. to impose a temporary or definitive limitation including a ban on processing;
    7. to order the rectification or erasure of personal data or restriction of processing pursuant to Articles 16, 17 and 18 and the notification of such actions to recipients to whom the personal data have been disclosed pursuant to Article 17(2) and Article 19;
    8. to withdraw a certification or to order the certification body to withdraw a certification issued pursuant to Articles 42 and 43, or to order the certification body not to issue certification if the requirements for the certification are not or are no longer met;
    9. to impose an administrative fine pursuant to Article 83, in addition to, or instead of measures referred to in this paragraph, depending on the circumstances of each individual case;
    10. to order the suspension of data flows to a recipient in a third country or to an international organisation.
  3. Each supervisory authority shall have all of the following authorisation and advisory powers:
    1. to advise the controller in accordance with the prior consultation procedure referred to in Article 36;
    2. to issue, on its own initiative or on request, opinions to the national parliament, the Member State government or, in accordance with Member State law, to other institutions and bodies as well as to the public on any issue related to the protection of personal data;
    3. to authorise processing referred to in Article 36(5), if the law of the Member State requires such prior authorisation;
    4. to issue an opinion and approve draft codes of conduct pursuant to Article 40(5);
    5. to accredit certification bodies pursuant to Article 43;
    6. to issue certifications and approve criteria of certification in accordance with Article 42(5);
    7. to adopt standard data protection clauses referred to in Article 28(8) and in point (d) of Article 46(2);
    8. to authorise contractual clauses referred to in point (a) of Article 46(3);
    9. to authorise administrative arrangements referred to in point (b) of Article 46(3);
    10. to approve binding corporate rules pursuant to Article 47.
  4. The exercise of the powers conferred on the supervisory authority pursuant to this Article shall be subject to appropriate safeguards, including effective judicial remedy and due process, set out in Union and Member State law in accordance with the Charter.
  5. Each Member State shall provide by law that its supervisory authority shall have the power to bring infringements of this Regulation to the attention of the judicial authorities and where appropriate, to commence or engage otherwise in legal proceedings, in order to enforce the provisions of this Regulation.
  6. Each Member State may provide by law that its supervisory authority shall have additional powers to those referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3. The exercise of those powers shall not impair the effective operation of Chapter VII.
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  • 129

Recital 129

In order to ensure consistent monitoring and enforcement of this Regulation throughout the Union, the supervisory authorities should have in each Member State the same tasks and effective powers, including powers of investigation, corrective powers and sanctions, and authorisation and advisory powers, in particular in cases of complaints from natural persons, and without prejudice to the powers of prosecutorial authorities under Member State law, to bring infringements of this Regulation to the attention of the judicial authorities and engage in legal proceedings. Such powers should also include the power to impose a temporary or definitive limitation, including a ban, on processing. Member States may specify other tasks related to the protection of personal data under this Regulation. The powers of supervisory authorities should be exercised in accordance with appropriate procedural safeguards set out in Union and Member State law, impartially, fairly and within a reasonable time. In particular each measure should be appropriate, necessary and proportionate in view of ensuring compliance with this Regulation, taking into account the circumstances of each individual case, respect the right of every person to be heard before any individual measure which would affect him or her adversely is taken and avoid superfluous costs and excessive inconveniences for the persons concerned. Investigatory powers as regards access to premises should be exercised in accordance with specific requirements in Member State procedural law, such as the requirement to obtain a prior judicial authorisation. Each legally binding measure of the supervisory authority should be in writing, be clear and unambiguous, indicate the supervisory authority which has issued the measure, the date of issue of the measure, bear the signature of the head, or a member of the supervisory authority authorised by him or her, give the reasons for the measure, and refer to the right of an effective remedy. This should not preclude additional requirements pursuant to Member State procedural law. The adoption of a legally binding decision implies that it may give rise to judicial review in the Member State of the supervisory authority that adopted the decision.

Art. 59 GDPR - Activity Reports arrow_right_alt