Data protection authorities in the Czech Republic and Austria are encountering parallel challenges as digital technologies rapidly evolve, particularly with the increased adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and the widespread use of social media platforms. These technologies introduce significant risks, creating potential vulnerabilities for citizens’ privacy and personal data security. Recognizing these challenges, representatives from both countries’ regulatory bodies convened recently in Prague for an unprecedented bilateral meeting aimed at exchanging best practices and coordinating their response to emerging digital threats. This gathering marks a significant milestone, as it is the first direct dialogue between the Czech Office for Personal Data Protection (ÚOOÚ) and the Austrian Data Protection Authority (Datenschutzbehörde) since the implementation of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
With new EU digital regulations on the horizon, cooperation between these neighboring countries has taken on greater urgency, especially considering shared concerns over issues such as AI-driven data processing, electoral manipulation through social networks, and increased cross-border data flows. As highlighted during discussions held at Prague’s National Museum, supervisory authorities are now tasked not only with enforcing GDPR compliance but also preparing for expanding mandates covering diverse aspects of digital governance. Through strengthening collaboration and ensuring that regulators possess adequate resources, Czech and Austrian officials aim to balance effective oversight with innovation, positioning themselves strategically to protect individual rights in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
At the invitation of Jiří Kaucký, Head of the Czech Office for Personal Data Protection (ÚOOÚ), a delegation from the Austrian Data Protection Authority (Datenschutzbehörde), led by Dr. Matthias Schmidl, visited Prague for two days of bilateral discussions. This meeting, the first bilateral exchange since GDPR came into effect, builds upon ongoing collaboration facilitated by the European Data Protection Board. The main objectives were to share experiences and prepare for upcoming European digital legislation.
The primary discussions took place on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at Prague’s National Museum, where both delegations addressed challenges regarding the sustainability of current oversight activities. This discussion was particularly relevant given the continual expansion of regulatory authority responsibilities into new areas. Jiří Kaucký emphasized:
“For Europe’s digital economy, which processes ever-increasing volumes of personal data from hundreds of millions of citizens, effective regulation is crucial. Data protection authorities, given their expertise, have an irreplaceable role. However, extending their competencies shouldn’t solely involve adopting new European or national laws—these should not unduly burden the digital economy. Adequate financial resources and staffing must also accompany this growth in responsibility to ensure authorities can effectively supervise data protection and safeguard citizens’ privacy.”
Discussions covered the regulatory challenges posed by artificial intelligence and risks associated with advanced processing of personal data in election campaigns, including potential misuse of social media to influence electoral outcomes.
Another significant topic was the planned strengthening of procedural rights for individuals who file complaints regarding cross-border data privacy violations under GDPR. With the relevant European legislation nearing final approval, Czech authorities already face pressure from European and national court rulings to revise their domestic legislation and practices. Extensive debates also addressed the practicalities of supervisory activities and administrative proceedings, sharing experiences from applying GDPR in both the commercial and public sectors.
A practical outcome of these discussions was the sharing of effective public awareness initiatives. The Czech authority plans to adopt insights from an Austrian project designed specifically to educate children and youth about data privacy, using materials presented by their Austrian counterparts.
The Austrian delegation also presented its newly acquired competencies in freedom of information, highlighting the delicate balance required between transparency in public administration and protecting individual privacy. Although the Czech authority has held similar responsibilities since 2020, both countries have approached this area differently from a legislative perspective.
Dr. Matthias Schmidl concluded the session by emphasizing:
“The growing volume of personal data processing necessitates robust cross-border collaboration. Given that both the Czech and Austrian authorities encounter similar challenges, strengthening our bilateral relations is mutually beneficial. We appreciate the invitation from our Czech colleagues and look forward to hosting them in Vienna.”
The expert-level discussions continued into Wednesday of last week, covering specialized topics such as biometric data usage in criminal investigations and national security contexts.
The privacy world continues to evolve in the EU with AI being a hot topic but one thing is for certain is that the fines for GDPR violations have not slowed down at all
