Best Practices for DPAs: The Citizens' Perspective Peter Schaar The Federal Data Protection Commissioner Germany "Privacy in a New Era: Challenges, Opportunities and Partnerships” 13 September 2004 Wroclaw, Poland

Accountability In three directions: For individuals For companies For the society Activate the conscience of the info-society with view and perspective, as an outlook function Let the citizens know that there is someone who cares, encourages, provides moral support Open doors

Transparency the person in charge (the Commissioner): he should be visible, easy to get in touch with the office: be present (website, reports, brochures, ...) the procedures (let the citizen follow what is going on in his matter and let him participate, not just send one final letter after a long time) the organisation goals, the values we stand for

Responsiveness More than formal responsibility Best help is quick help Respond to citizens‘ needs even where not yet articulated Give warnings and orientation through the media, where (probably) helpful for many citizens Be multiplicator for news from other countries, from civil society, think and learn globally - act locally, internationally and globally Learn from “customer management”

Innovation On all levels: technical instruments used by the DPA; client-friendly communication facilities technological forecasting, privacy impact analysis manpower: invite innovative spirits, co-operation with science and education sectors, exchange programs with business, with other sectors, with foreign countries, with NGOs

Conclusion and outlook What has been done. What remains to be done Conclusion and outlook What has been done? What remains to be done? - We are clearly in a process of improving transparency (this is true for the EU level as well as for many countries). - And this hopefully is a key strategy which also will contribute to the other values which we discuss today.