Gesellschaft für Datenschutz und Datensicherheit

The Gesellschaft für Datenschutz und Datensicherheit e.V. (GDD) is a German non-profit association dedicated to data protection and data security. Founded in 1977 as the Gesellschaft für Datenschutz und Datensicherung, it is headquartered in Bonn and is the largest German data protection association, with over 3,800 members as of July 2020. The GDD describes itself as an organisation for the interests of data-processing bodies — especially small and medium-sized businesses — their data protection officers, and affected citizens. It promotes self-control and self-regulation by companies and engages in political advocacy for practical data protection and data security requirements. The association operates regional experience-exchange circles (Erfa-Kreise) in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where data protection officers and data protection managers discuss current issues. It publishes extensive working and practical aids, offers personal advice for corporate members, and organises the annual Datenschutzfachtagung (DAFTA) together with Datakontext-Tagungen, held every November in Cologne. The GDD is a founding member of the Confederation of European Data Protection Organisations (CEDPO), established in September 2011. Since 2013, the GDD has awarded the annual GDD-Datenschutzpreis to honour individuals who have courageously championed the fundamental right to informational self-determination in times of big data and increasing digitalisation. Recipients have included Peter Schaar, Jan Philipp Albrecht, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, Viviane Reding, and others. The association also awards the Bernd-Hentschel-Wissenschaftspreis and a science promotion prize for outstanding academic work in data protection and data security. A scientific advisory board, chaired by Tobias O. Keber, provides expert guidance. The GDD is chaired by Rolf Schwartmann, who has led the board since 21 November 2012.

The Gesellschaft für Datenschutz und Datensicherheit (GDD) was founded in 1977 as the Gesellschaft für Datenschutz und Datensicherung and is headquartered in Bonn. It is a registered non-profit association (gemeinnütziger Verein) that has grown to become the largest German data protection association, with over 3,800 members as of July 2020. The association is a co-signatory of the joint declaration of the AK Vorrat from January 2007 regarding the draft law on data retention. On 18 November 2009, by resolution of its members, the association renamed itself from Gesellschaft für Datenschutz und Datensicherung to Gesellschaft für Datenschutz und Datensicherheit. It advocates for sensible, justifiable, and technically feasible data protection and supports data protection officers and data-processing bodies in implementing data protection and data security. The GDD is a founding member of the Confederation of European Data Protection Organisations (CEDPO), established in September 2011, a umbrella organisation of European data protection organisations. Together with Datakontext-Tagungen, the GDD organises the Datenschutzfachtagung DAFTA, which takes place annually in November in Cologne. Rolf Schwartmann has been chairman of the GDD board since 21 November 2012; he is also head of the Cologne Research Centre for Media Law at the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law of the Technical University of Cologne. Since 2013, the association has awarded the annual GDD-Datenschutzpreis, which honours the personal commitment and achievements of individuals who have courageously championed the fundamental right to informational self-determination in times of big data and increasing digitalisation. Recipients include Peter Schaar (2013), Jan Philipp Albrecht (2014), Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger (2015), Viviane Reding (2016), Jörg Eickelpasch (2017), Thomas Kranig (2018), Ranga Yogeshwar (2019), Marc Elsberg (2020), Werner Koch (2021), Stefan Brink (2022), Jörg Schieb (2023), Katharina Zweig (2024), and Raphaela Edelbauer (2025). The association also awards the annual Bernd-Hentschel-Wissenschaftspreis and the Wissenschaftsförderpreis für Datenschutz und Datensicherheit for outstanding scientific work in data protection and data security. The GDD board has established a scientific advisory board consisting of experts in data protection and IT security, chaired by Tobias O. Keber. Members include Rainer W. Gerling, Christopher Kuner, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, Michael Meier, Boris Paal, Norbert Pohlmann, Jürgen Taeger, and Peter Zoche.

• 2020

  Membership exceeded 3,800 as of July.

• 2013

  First GDD-Datenschutzpreis awarded to Peter Schaar.

• 2012

  Rolf Schwartmann became chairman of the board on 21 November.

• 2011

  Founding member of the Confederation of European Data Protection Organisations (CEDPO).

• 2009

  Renamed to Gesellschaft für Datenschutz und Datensicherheit by member resolution on 18 November.

• 2007

  Co-signatory of the AK Vorrat joint declaration on data retention draft law.

• 1977

  Founded as Gesellschaft für Datenschutz und Datensicherung.

Non-profit association advocating practical, technically feasible data protection and representing data-processing organisations and data protection officers.

• DAFTA (Datenschutzfachtagung)

  Annual data protection conference held in November in Cologne, organised with Datakontext-Tagungen.

• Erfa-Kreise

  Regional experience-exchange circles in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland for data protection officers.

• GDD-Datenschutzpreis

  Annual award honouring individuals for commitment to informational self-determination.

• Bernd-Hentschel-Wissenschaftspreis

  Annual science prize for outstanding academic work in data protection and data security.

1. 1GDD official websitegdd.de
2. 2Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Wikidatawikidata.org