Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner

Walter Thurnherr, Federal Chancellor

Parent agencyFederal Chancellery^[2]WebsiteEDÖB/PFPDT/IFPDT

The Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) is responsible to advise, educate and ensure the protection of personal data in Switzerland. It is established by the Federal Act on Data Protection^[3] and by the Federal Act on Freedom of Information in the Administration.^[4]

The Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner is responsible for the supervision of federal authorities and private bodies with respect to data protection and freedom of information legislation. It is affiliated with the Federal Chancellery of Switzerland.

The cantons also have data protection and information commissioners.

History

The position of Federal Data Protection Commissioner was created in 1993,^[5] with the entry in force (on 1 July 1993) of the Federal Act on Data Protection of 19 June 1992.^[3]

The position was renamed Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner in 2006, with the entry in force (on 1 July 2006) of the Federal Act on Freedom of Information in the Administration of 17 December 2004.^[4]

The commissioner is appointed by the Federal Council (for a term of office of four years) and approved by a vote of the Federal Assembly.^[3]

Commissioners

1993-2001: Odilo Guntern (substitute: Jean-Philippe Walter)
2001-2015: Hanspeter Thür (substitute: Jean-Philippe Walter)
2015-2016: Jean-Philippe Walter, ad interim (substitute: Marc Buntschu)
Since 2016: Adrian Lobsiger (substitute: Jean-Philippe Walter)

References

^ The position of Federal Data Protection Commissioner was created in 1993. It was renamed Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner in 2006.
^ According to the Federal Act on Data Protection, "The Commissioner fulfils his tasks independently without being subject to the directives of any authority. He is assigned to the Federal Chancellery for administrative purposes." (article 26).
^ ^a ^b ^c Federal Act on Data Protection of 19 June 1992 (status as of 1 January 2014), Federal Chancellery of Switzerland (page visited on 18 September 2016).
^ ^a ^b Federal Act on Freedom of Information in the Administration of 17 December 2004 (status as of 19 August 2014), Federal Chancellery of Switzerland (page visited on 19 September 2016).
^ (in French) Premier rapport d'activités (1993-1994), Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (page visited on 18 September 2016).