Germany: Introduced Bill to amend Federal Data Protection Act (20/10859) including data protection authority governance

On 27 March 2024, the Bill (20/10859) to amend the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) was introduced to the lower house of the federal parliament, Bundestag. The Bill aims to institutionalise the Data Protection Conference (DSK) within the BDSG, as agreed in the coalition contract for 2021-2025. The Bill aims to simplify regulatory compliance for companies and research institutions involved in transnational projects by allowing them to be regulated by a single state data protection supervisory authority. Furthermore, the Bill addresses the need for clear applicability of the BDSG to data processing with a domestic connection and revises regulations regarding video surveillance of publicly accessible spaces by non-public entities. The Bill also includes measures to ensure that the BDSG aligns with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) while addressing national requirements and enhancing individuals' data privacy rights.