§ 14 BDSG
Tasks
(1)In addition to the tasks referred to in Regulation (EU) 2016/679, the Federal Commissioner shall have the tasks ofIn the scope of application of Directive (EU) 2016/680, the Federal Commissioner shall additionally perform the task under Section 60. 1 monitoring and enforcing the application of this Act and other provisions relating to data protection, including the legal provisions transposing Directive (EU) 2016/680,; 2 promoting public awareness and understanding of the risks, rules, safeguards and rights in relation to the processing of personal data, with specific attention to activities addressed specifically to children,; 3 advising the German Bundestag and the Bundesrat, the Federal Government and other institutions and bodies on legislative and administrative measures relating to the protection of the rights and freedoms of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data,; 4 promoting the awareness of controllers and processors of their obligations under this Act and other provisions relating to data protection, including the legal provisions transposing Directive (EU) 2016/680,; 5 upon request, providing information to any data subject concerning the exercise of their rights under this Act and other provisions relating to data protection, including the legal provisions transposing Directive (EU) 2016/680, and, if appropriate, cooperating with the supervisory authorities in other Member States to that end,; 6 handling complaints lodged by a data subject, or by a body, organisation or association in accordance with Article 55 of Directive (EU) 2016/680, investigating the subject matter of the complaint to the extent appropriate, and informing the complainant of the progress and the outcome of the investigation within a reasonable period, in particular if further investigation or coordination with another supervisory authority is necessary,; 7 cooperating with, including sharing information with, and providing mutual assistance to, other supervisory authorities with a view to ensuring the consistency of application and enforcement of this Act and other provisions relating to data protection, including the legal provisions transposing Directive (EU) 2016/680,; 8 conducting investigations on the application of this Act and other provisions relating to data protection, including the legal provisions transposing Directive (EU) 2016/680, including on the basis of information received from another supervisory authority or other public authority,; 9 monitoring relevant developments, insofar as they have an impact on the protection of personal data, in particular the development of information and communication technologies and of commercial practices,; 10 providing advice in relation to the processing operations referred to in Section 69 and; 11 making contributions to the activities of the European Data Protection Board.
(2)In fulfilment of the task referred to in Subsection (1), first sentence, No. 3, the Federal Commissioner may, on his or her own initiative or on request, address opinions to the German Bundestag or one of its committees, the Bundesrat, the Federal Government, other institutions and bodies, and to the public on any issue related to the protection of personal data. At the request of the German Bundestag, one of its committees or the Federal Government, the Federal Commissioner shall also investigate indications of matters and events relating to data protection at public bodies of the Federation.
(3)The Federal Commissioner shall facilitate the submission of the complaints referred to in Subsection (1), first sentence, No. 6 by measures such as providing a complaint form which can also be completed electronically, without excluding other means of communication.
(4)The performance of the tasks of the Federal Commissioner shall be free of charge for the data subject. Where requests are manifestly unfounded or excessive, in particular because of their repetitive character, the Federal Commissioner may charge a reasonable fee on the basis of administrative costs or refuse to act on the request. In such cases, the Federal Commissioner shall bear the burden of demonstrating the manifestly unfounded or excessive character of the request.