The Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (FfDF) is the federal commissioner not only for data protection but also, since commencement of the German Freedom of Information Act on January 1, 2006, for freedom of information.
Before the commencement of the Act, his title was "Federal Commissioner for Data Protection #FfD#". In this capacity, according to the German Federal Data Protection Act #FDPA#, he is an independent control entity providing monitoring for data protection in public federal government positions and at corporations, and telecommunications and postal services. He produces a semiannual activity report. The German Federal Government nominates him and the German Bundestag elects him. During his time in office, he receives remuneration in the amount commensurate with a federal official in salary group B 9. In this regard, his status is that of a public law official, but not, however, that of a civil servant. The term of office is five years. He can be reelected.
A right to refuse to give evidence is available to the federal commissioner in regard to persons and facts with which comes into contact in his capacity as federal commissioner #FDPA §23, sec. 4#. He is also empowered to decide about his employees' refusal to give evidence.
The German Federal Ministry of the Interior establishes the federal commissioner. His agency assumes an exceptional administrative organizational position. The FfDI's budget is accounted for in its own chapter. The necessary personnel and facilities are to be made available to him pursuant to legal regulations. Positions at the FfDI can only be filled with his approval.
The FfDI executes of his office independently subject only to law. There is no technical oversight #FDPA §22, sec. 4#. He is subject to the federal government's legal oversight as well as the Federal Ministry of the Interior's official oversight.
Peter Schaar has been the Office of the Federal Commissioner incumbent since December 17, 2003. Diethelm Gehold represents the FfDI and is its leading official.
The Federal Commissioner monitors #FDPA §24# and advises #FDPA §26, sec. 3# federal civil servants, other public positions at the federal level, telecommunications and the postal service on the grounds of the Telecommunications Act #TCA# and postal law . He advises and monitors implementation of security inspections according to the Security Review Law #SRL#, even to the extent that they affect private business.
Read more about Federal Commissioner For Data Protection And Freedom Of Information: Notes and References
Famous quotes containing the words federal, data, protection, freedom and/or information:
“The Federal Constitution has stood the test of more than a hundred years in supplying the powers that have been needed to make the Central Government as strong as it ought to be, and with this movement toward uniform legislation and agreements between the States I do not see why the Constitution may not serve our people always.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)
“This city is neither a jungle nor the moon.... In long shot: a cosmic smudge, a conglomerate of bleeding energies. Close up, it is a fairly legible printed circuit, a transistorized labyrinth of beastly tracks, a data bank for asthmatic voice-prints.”
—Susan Sontag (b. 1933)
“Ah! how much a mother learns from her child! The constant protection of a helpless being forces us to so strict an alliance with virtue, that a woman never shows to full advantage except as a mother. Then alone can her character expand in the fulfillment of all life’s duties and the enjoyment of all its pleasures.”
—Honoré De Balzac (1799–1850)
“[T]here is a Wit for Discourse, and a Wit for Writing. The Easiness and Familiarity of the first, is not to savour in the least of Study; but the Exactness of the other, is to admit of something like the Freedom of Discourse, especially in Treatises of Humanity, and what regards the Belles Lettres.”
—Richard Steele (1672–1729)
“Many more children observe attitudes, values and ways different from or in conflict with those of their families, social networks, and institutions. Yet today’s young people are no more mature or capable of handling the increased conflicting and often stimulating information they receive than were young people of the past, who received the information and had more adult control of and advice about the information they did receive.”
—James P. Comer (20th century)