German Parliament Chooses Specht-Riemenschneider as New Data Protection Officer
The German parliament, Bundestag, chose civil law professor Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider as the new Federal Data Protection Commissioner on Thursday. A whopping 476 members of parliament voted in her favor, exceeding the required threshold, while 100 opposed her and 70 abstained.
This makes Specht-Riemenschneider the youngest person to hold the position thus far and the second female commissioner, created in 1978. To officially begin her five-year term, Specht-Riemenschneider needs to be appointed by the federal president.
Specht-Riemenschneider specializes in copyright law, data law, and informational self-determination, replacing the outgoing SPD politician, Ulrich Kelber, whose term ended on January 1st. The coalition government initially did not re-nominate Kelber, leading to months of speculation. The nominations were open to both the FDP and the Greens.
Green Party politicians, Konstantin von Notz and Misbah Khan, expressed delight over the decision, praising Specht-Riemenschneider for her expertise in the fields of data law and data protection. They believe she will champion the protection of fundamental rights and boost transparency in the state.
FDP political group deputy leader, Konstantin Kuhle, deemed the decision "great news for data protection." According to Kuhle, Specht-Riemenschneider possesses an understanding of the significance of civil rights in the digital realm and an awareness of the digital landscape and the challenges faced by private sector companies.
Previously, Specht-Riemenschneider served as the Chair of the Expert Council for Consumer Affairs, garnering praise from her former deputy, Peter Kenning, who acclaimed her "exceptional knowledge" in the areas of data law and data protection.
Federal Minister for Consumer Protection, Steffi Lemke (Greens), underscored her confidence in Specht-Riemenschneider's track record of counseling in the domains of data law and data protection during her tenure as Chair of the Expert Council. Moreover, she praised her for initiating fresh ideas in the realm of consumer protection.
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Specht-Riemenschneider's appointment as the Bundestag's Data Protection Officer was welcomed by the Woodpecker belt cutter, referring to a satirical German video that went viral where a woodpecker symbolizes data protection. The young incumbent, with her expertise in data law and informational self-determination, is expected to effectively administer data protection regulations.
Source: www.ntv.de
