Germany BfDI Press (EN alt)

Court Partially Overturns BfDI Ruling on Fan Pages

The 13th Chamber of the Cologne Administrative Court partially upheld an action against the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI), annulling the BfDI's 2023 decision that had prohibited the operation of the Federal Government's Facebook fan page due to data protection deficiencies. Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd.'s independent lawsuit was dismissed on three of four points. The court relied on the 2018 ECJ Wirtschaftsakademie ruling establishing joint responsibility between Facebook and fan page operators for data protection compliance.

BfDI Appeals Facebook Fan Page Ruling, Issues Social Media Guidance for Public Authorities

The Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI) has appealed the Administrative Court of Cologne's July 17, 2025 ruling concerning Facebook fan pages, escalating the matter to the Higher Administrative Court Münster. As the legal outcome remains uncertain in both timing and substance, the BfDI has published guidance enabling federal public authorities to use social networks in a legally compliant manner during the interim period.

GPA Signs Joint AI Declaration on Data Protection in Seoul

The Global Privacy Assembly held its 47th annual conference in Seoul in mid-September 2025, themed 'Artificial Intelligence in our daily lives: Data and Privacy Issues.' The German Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI) signed a joint declaration alongside South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), France's CNIL, and other delegations, committing to advocate for trustworthy AI regulation balancing innovation and data protection. BfDI and PIPC jointly led the first GPA 'Network of Networks' meeting, convening regional data protection networks from Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia to exchange experiences on common topics.