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Cooperation

The Dutch Data Protection Authority (Dutch DPA) cooperates with other supervisory authorities on a national and an international level.

Within the European Union (EU), the Dutch DPA cooperates intensively with the other EU data protection authorities. The Dutch DPA also cooperates with data protection authorities outside the EU.

At a national level, the Dutch DPA cooperates with several other supervisory authorities. For example, if there are overlaps in their areas of work.

National cooperation

The Dutch DPA has concluded a cooperation agreement (covenant) with several organisations with the Netherlands. A covenant is often used for a problem for which there is no legislation (yet) or legislation alone is not sufficient.

The organisations participating in the covenant make agreements on the division of tasks for overlapping areas of supervision. In the covenant, they also record the steps they take to achieve – within a legal framework – goals together.

The Dutch DPA has covenants in place with the following parties:

Market Supervisors Council

The Dutch DPA also participates in the Market Supervisors Council (MTB). This is the partnership between supervisory authorities that (also) focus on the functioning of markets and the behaviour of market players.

The other participants are:

  • Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM)
  • Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM)
  • Financial Supervision Office (BFT)
  • Supervisory Authority for Collective Management Organizations (Copyright and Neighbouring Rights) (CvTA)
  • Dutch Media Authority (CvdM)
  • De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB)
  • Netherlands Gaming Authority (Ksa)
  • Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa).

Although every supervisory authority has its own specific task, the participants regularly have dealings with each other where market supervision is concerned. The issues and developments of supervision are often comparable.

The MTB wants to combine the forces of the supervisory authorities on shared themes and issues. A joint approach results in more effective and efficient supervision. And limits the burdens of supervision where possible.

The MTB ensures that supervisory authorities engage in talks with each other on a structural basis. With the aim of sharing knowledge and experiences relating to overarching themes, in an atmosphere of transparency and mutual trust.

Mutual cooperation in specific matters is arranged in cooperation agreements between supervisory authorities.

Digital Supervisors Cooperation Platform (SDT)

Technological innovations and online services have a massive impact on our society and economy. That is why the Digital Supervisors Cooperation Platform (SDT) was founded in October 2021. In this platform, several independent supervisory authorities work together on the supervision of digital services.

The SDT was founded by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM), the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), the Dutch Data Protection Authority (Dutch DPA), and the Dutch Media Authority (CvdM). These supervisory authorities have different areas of supervision and are all dealing with digital services. To ensure that these supervisory activities are properly aligned, the supervisory authorities want to respond to developments together. Think of themes such as artificial intelligence, algorithms and data processing, online design, online personalisation, online manipulation and deception.

Personal data

As a result of the digital transformation, new markets, businesses and earnings models emerge. This often involves the use of personal data. Innovations are often cross-sectoral. As a result, the way in which people work, do business, consume, absorb news and maintain social contacts changes. This offers advantages and opportunities, but may also entail risks and result in new problems.

Objectives

The SDT wants to understand opportunities and risks in the digital society and place them on the agenda. In addition to researching these opportunities and risks, the SDT wants to be able to address them as well. In doing so, the platform considers various public interests. The four supervisory authorities also want to invest in knowledge and expertise together. And share these with each other. Finally, they want to ensure efficient and effective supervision of (European) laws and regulations together.

Knowledge and research

The SDT conducts research to learn where problems arise in order to be able to tackle them together. One of the first topics of research by the SDT is how businesses and governments can explain to Internet users what happens online with their data. And how Internet users can be given the best possible protection against deception or abuse of their personal data. Preferably in language that everyone can understand.

The SDT also lists and identifies, for example, new (European) rules for dealing with big tech companies, the data economy and the platform economy. The supervisory authorities monitor parts of these regulations, each from their own area. In addition, the ACM, AFM, Dutch DPA and CvdM look together at where topics overlap and where problems may arise.

International cooperation

For more information about the international partnerships of the Dutch DPA, see: International cooperation.