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Miscellaneous

File a privacy complaint

Filing a complaint with the state data protection authority regarding alleged violations of the GDPR by companies or government agencies.

Wo wohnen Sie?

Damit wir File a privacy complaint mit dem zuständigen Datenschutzbehörde in Ihrer Stadt anzeigen können.

Oder Großstadt wählen:

Sie werden zur geführten Suche weitergeleitet – mit Kontaktdaten, Termin und nächsten Schritten für File a privacy complaint.

Processing: approx. 2 monthsSuccess rate: 55.0 %
Last reviewed: August 02, 2026

Quick answer

  1. 1

    Documents you need

    Personalausweis oder Reisepass

  2. 2

    Responsible authority

    The authority of your main residence

  3. 3

    How to do it

    Apply directly online

  4. 4

    Costs

    Je nach Gemeinde und Leistung – beim zuständigen Amt erfragen

Find the responsible authority

How to proceed

  1. 1

    Contact the person in charge

    First, exercise your right to access or deletion directly.

  2. 2

    File a complaint with the data protection authority

    Online form with a description of the facts and supporting documents.

  3. 3

    Review by the authority

    May result in a warning, an order, or a fine for the person responsible.

Responsible authority

The authority of your main place of residence is responsible.Find authority →

The essentials before applying

Who is eligible?

Any data subject whose personal data has been processed unlawfully.

Income limit

Processing time

Nationwide: approx. approx. 2 months

Success rate

approx. 55.0 % (estimate)

Most common mistakes

  • Previous complaint to the data controller (company) was not documented
  • Facts of the case are insufficiently described

Common reasons for rejection

  • No violation of the GDPR was found
  • To clarify the facts of the case under civil law

Alternatives

  • Check related services in the application assistant
  • Use social counselling before applying

If rejected

File a written objection within 30 days – with reasons why the decision is wrong and any missing evidence.

Questions & Answers

Does filing a data protection complaint cost anything?

No, filing a complaint with the supervisory authority is free of charge for those affected.

Freshness & source

Maintenance
Continuously reviewed & updated
Source
Bundesportal (verwaltung.bund.de)
Data quality
100 %

Read more

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