A data protection officer is data management role that oversees the application of and compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) within an organisation [4].

DPO

A data protection officer (DPO) is an expert on data protection to regulation and policies [1].

The DPO make sure personal data processed by the organization is fully compliant. Examples of personal data can be customers, suppliers, or other individuals’ data processed by the organization for their daily operations. Their role is to make sure data is protected according to laws like General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and company internal data policies like a retention policy [2].

A data protection officer is responsible for: [1][3]

• Ensuring that data controllers (the party that determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data) and data subjects (the person whose personal data are collected, held or processed) are informed about their data protection rights, obligations and responsibilities and raise awareness about them.
• Giving advice and recommendations to the organization about the interpretation or application of the data protection rules.
• Ensuring data protection compliance within the organization.
• Carrying out risk analyses. For example, does an organization want to implement a new system in which personal data is collected? Then the DPO is involved to map out the risks.
• Being contact person for all persons within the organization. For example, for questions or complaints in the field of data and privacy.
• Maintaining a processing register, in which all data flows relating to personal data of an organization are mapped.

[1] Data Protection Officer (DPO). (2022, September 30). European Data Protection Supervisor. Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://edps.europa.eu/data-protection/data-protection/reference-library/data-protection-officer-dpo_en

[2] Definitive guide to data governance. (n.d.). In www.talend.com. Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://info.talend.com/rs/talend/images/WP_EN_DG_Talend_DefinitiveGuide_DataGovernance.pdf

[3] AVG en GDPR: wat doet een Data Protection Officer. (2022, March 23). Lindenhaeghe. Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://www.lindenhaeghe.nl/nieuws/avg-en-gdpr-wat-doet-een-data-protection-officer

[4] ArcXL. Functionaris gegevensbescherming