Berlin Group - International Working Group on Data Protection in Technology
The International Working Group on Data Protection in Technology (IWGDPT) observes trends and developments in the technological sector, such as “big data“, „Internet of things“ or artificial intelligence. For this purpose, the group develops recommendations and guidelines for using these technologies in a way which is in line with data protection requirements.
When working together, the Berlin Group benefits from its heterogeneous, transnational composition with participants from data protection supervisory authorities, government agencies, international organizations and non-governmental organizations as well as from research and academia. The BfDI particularly appreciates the exchange of opinions and cooperation with international colleagues in order to achieve the most comprehensive and data protection-friendly recommendations on new technologies for an international audience as the IWGDPT Berlin Group target audience.
In March 2021, the former Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI), Professor Ulrich Kelber, took over the chairmanship of the group from the Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information. The working group was founded in 1983 on the initiative of the then Berlin Data Protection Commissioner in the context of the International Conference of Data Protection Commissioners - and therefore also became known as the "Berlin Group". In recent years, which have been characterized by an increasing and rapid digitization of society, the group has focused on fundamental issues of digitization and data protection and, to this end, has published a series of documents and guidelines on those subjects.