Germany approves Bill to establish collective action for enforcement of consumer/data protection rights



After approval by Germany’s federal cabinet, the legislature will now consider how to make the enforcement of consumer and data protection rights more effective. The draft law would improve the civil enforcement of consumer protection provisions of the Data Protection Act.

Commenting on the plans to establish the right of collective action in the context of data protection rights, Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection, Heiko Maas, said that for consumers, it is difficult to identify a company’s failure to comply with data protection legislation. Many consumers are also afraid of the cost and effort of pursuing data protection law violations. Many do not dare to start litigation alone against large companies….. In such situations, consumers need a strong advocate for their interests, the consumer organizations.

The consumer organisations would have the right to issue cease-and-desist letters. The proposal will next be discussed in Germany’s legislature.

See http://www.bmjv.de/SharedDocs/Kurzmeldungen/DE/2015/20150204-Verbandsklagerecht.html?nn=3433226