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Frequently Asked Questions on PrighterGDPR-Rep

Does our company need an Art. 27 GDPR representative in the EU?

Which companies need an EU representative?

Companies established outside the EU are required to appoint an EU representative according to Art. 27 of GDPR if they:

  • offer goods and services to individuals in the EU (e.g. providing a website in an EU language, offering payments in EUR) or
  • monitor their behaviour (e.g. cookie profiling).

According to the Guideline 3/2018 of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) on the territorial scope of GDPR, this applies to both controllers and processors. For processors not established in the European Union the applicability of GDPR depends on what the “processing activities” are related to. If the data processing conducted for the controller is related to the offering of goods and services or to the monitoring of behaviour, GDPR applies to the processor in addition to the controller.

Case 1: Online Gaming: You are an online gaming company located outside the EU and offer your games to data subjects in the EU free of charge. When using your games you analyse the data subjects' geolocation data, web-browser data and history and show ads based on this data. As you target the EU market by offering your games and monitoring the users' behaviour you are legally required to appoint a GDPR Representative physically established in an EU member state to remain compliant. Violations of the EU GDPR can lead to substantial fines by authorities and exclusion from business activities in the EU.

Case 2: B2B SaaS: You develop CRM software and offer it as a SaaS product to companies, which are either targeting the EU without an establishment or which are located in the EU. Because your business clients are targeting EU data subjects and your CRM software product is processing and storing their data, you are also required to appoint a GDPR Representative physically established in an EU member state. It is likely that your business clients in the EU will also require you to appoint a representative and enter into a data processing agreement. You can establish trust by already being GDPR compliant during the negotiation phase with your business clients.

Are there any exemptions from the obligation to appoint an EU representative?

According to Art. 27 GDPR, controllers or processors are exempted from the regulation if ALL of the following criteria are met:

  • personal data is only processed occasionally, which is only from time to time and non-systematic; AND
  • data processing does not include large-scale processing of special categories of personal data or personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences; AND
  • data processing is unlikely to result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of data subjects. It is hard to meet ALL of these criteria, in particular the criterion of processing data only occasionally proves to be a big hurdle for most businesses.

Does my company offer goods and services to individuals in the EU?

Your company's intention to establish commercial relations with EU customers needs to have manifested in a business activity. The mere accessibility of a website in the EU, a mention on the website of an e-mail or geographical address, or of a telephone number without an international code, does not, of itself, provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate the intention to offer goods or services to EU customers. The European Data Protection Board listed the factors to be taken into account when assessing if goods and services are offered in its Guideline 3/2018 on the territorial scope of GDPR. Some of those factors are:

  • using languages of EU Member States, or offering payments in a currency of an EU Member State;
  • using Google or Facebook ads to address the EU market, or any other marketing activity directed towards EU customers;
  • mentioning EU references or testimonials;
  • the activity at hand being of an international nature, such as certain tourist activities;
  • mentioning dedicated addresses or phone numbers to be reached from an EU country;
  • use of EU top-level domains;
  • description of travel instructions from one or more other EU Member States to the place
where the service is provided;
  • offering the delivery of goods to EU Member States;

In a nutshell, if your company has any outbound activity in the EU or if your company enables or guides EU customers to find your company's product, GDPR is likely to apply.

Case 1: A website, based and managed in Turkey, offers services for creating, editing, printing, and shipping personalised family photo albums. The website is available in English, French, Dutch, and German, and payments can be made in euros or sterling. The website indicates that photo albums can only be delivered by mail in the UK, France, Benelux, and Germany.

Case 2: A Swiss University offers summer courses in international relations and specifically advertises this offer in German and Austrian universities in order to maximise the courses’ attendance. In this case, there is a clear intention from the Swiss University to offer such services to data subjects who are in the European Union, and GDPR will apply to the related processing activities.

Does my company monitor the behaviour of EU data subjects?

Not all online collection or analysis of personal data of individuals in the EU counts automatically as “monitoring”. Monitoring the behaviour of EU data subjects implies an intention to collect data for a specific purpose. Therefore, any kind of tracking of natural persons on the Internet, including the potential subsequent use of profiling techniques qualifies as 'monitoring'. Again, the EDPB gives some more guidance in the Guidelines 03/2018. According to the EDPB, monitoring may not only take place on the Internet but also through wearables and other smart devices. Monitoring activities include:

  • Behavioural advertisement
  • Geo-localisation activities, in particular for marketing purposes
  • Online tracking using cookies or other tracking techniques such as fingerprinting
  • Personalised diet and health analytics services online
  • CCTV
  • Market surveys and other behavioural studies based on individual profiles
  • Monitoring or regular reporting on an individual’s health status

Case 1: A marketing company established in the US provides advice on retail layout to a shopping centre in France, based on an analysis of customers’ movements throughout the centre collected through Wi-Fi tracking.

Case 2: An app developer is established in Canada with no establishment in the EU. I uses a processor established in the US for optimisation and maintenance of the app, however it also monitors the behaviour of data subjects in the EU. The developer is therefore subject to GDPR, as per Art. 3(2)b.

What fine may be imposed for non-compliance?

The GDPR extends its 'territorial scope' to controllers and processors that have their registered office in a country outside of the EU. As a result, high penalties of up to €10 million or 2% of the worldwide annual turnover can apply if a processor or a controller does not comply with the obligation of appointing an EU representative. The penalties may be enforced by individual claims or by authorities. Furthermore, your partners in the EU may be obliged to stop transferring data to your company.

What should I look for in an Art 27 representative? And what is Prighter’s approach?

What are the responsibilities of the representative?

The representative shall act as an addressee for authorities and data subjects to facilitate the communication with processors and controllers outside the EU. The representative needs to be mandated in writing by the controller or processor to evidence the appointment. In addition, the representative shall, maintain Art 30 records of processing activities and shall make the record available to the supervisory authority on request.

How has Prighter's business model been designed to meet these requirements?

  • To facilitate communication, Prighter established a network of offices all over Europe and developed high-end tech solutions for communication with both authorities and data subjects;
  • A written appointment is part of the onboarding flow. Clients can sign a Power of Attorney directly online in an end-to-end digital process; and
  • We assist clients in the drafting of records of processing activities by providing pre-filled templates along with extensive support and guidance.

Where should a representative be located?

First of all, the EDPB clarifies in its Guideline 03/2018 on territorial scope that only one representative needs to be appointed in an EU Member State, which can then serve for all other Member States. In the event that a significant proportion of the customer base is in one particular Member State it is best practice that the representative is established in this Member State. In any case, the representative will be easily accessible for data subjects in all Member States no matter where the representative is located.

How does Prighter approach these requirements?

  • Prighter has offices and partner offices in all major EU Member States, this keeps you compliant and provides you with a local and easily accessible representative for all your customers, no matter where they are located; and
  • Prighter is not a PO box, we have real privacy professionals in every location.

What is Prighter's approach to EU GDPR representation?

Our goal is to enable non-European companies to comply with GDPR through a combination of legal expertise and technology solutions. We put the practical insights we gain as a law firm (due to our role as the appointed Data Protection Officer for major banks, financial service providers, tech companies) into the development of our tools which easily handle Data Subject Requests (DSR) and data breaches, and into the management of records of processing activities. We support you in all privacy related matters, but above all we support you in growing your business by enabling you to improve customer trust by handling privacy matters in an efficient, compliant and professional way.

What do I get by appointing Prighter as my EU GDPR Representative?

The core of our service is representation according to Art. 27 GDPR. Around this requirement we have built features, services and tools which enable you to leverage your compliance in order to increase efficiency and gain the trust of your customers and partners. For more information on the services offered visit “GDPR-Rep Services”:

  • GDPR Representation:

By subscribing to the EU GDPR Representation Program, you appoint Prighter as your EU GDPR Representative. Our qualified team of lawyers and privacy professionals is your first line of defence to deal with requests from data subjects and data protection supervisory authorities (SA).

  • Gain Trust:

We provide you with a Compliance Landing Page that you can customise for your brand, display your privacy and security related certificates, and your privacy and cookie policies. This is your window into the world of privacy-related matters which helps you increase customer trust and confidence by demonstrating your privacy regulations compliance. The Compliance Landing Page also serves as an access point for privacy related requests which you can then easily manage with your GDPR Privacy Software tools.

  • GDPR Privacy Software Tools:

We have built a unique, specialised tool to manage the lifecycle of any data subject requests (DSRs) from existing or potential clients. This saves you time, internal resources, and money, and reduces your compliance risk substantially. When it comes to supervising authorities, we cover all of their standard requests (e.g. requests to submit records of processing activities). Additionally, we offer you a data breach tool that gives you access to our services in any critical situation which involves your data being compromised.

How does Prighter handle requests from data subjects and data protection authorities?

This is where our innovation comes into play. We built the Data Subject Request (DSR) management tool to channel, structure and filter all incoming privacy requests from clients and authorities. You can handle requests from millions of data subjects in one tool with the help of our proprietary AI technology. We cover and support all aspects of the formal handling of DSRs including communication with data subjects. What actually needs to be done in your database (e.g. delete a data subject), is always your own decision. The DSR tool is designed to manage the lifecycle of a data subject request to get all formal aspects right and offer you a framework of advice. Find more information on this tool here: Visit PrighterDSR 

What is the difference between a DPO and an EU GDPR representative?

When do I need a DPO and when do I need a representative?

You are obliged to appoint a data protection officer (DPO) if your company meets one of the following three criteria:

  • the processing is carried out by a public authority or body (except for courts acting in their judicial capacity);
  • the core activities of your company consist of processing operations which, by virtue of their nature, their scope and/or their purpose, require regular and systematic monitoring of data subjects on a large scale; or
  • the core activities of your company consist of processing on a large scale of special categories of data pursuant to Art. 9 and personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences referred to in Art. 10.

More information regarding how the criteria are interpreted is outlined in the Guideline of the Art. 29 Working Party on Data Protection Officers. In comparison to the requirements for appointing a DPO, a GDPR representative is needed in case of offering goods and services or monitoring EU data subjects. In a nutshell, the criteria for the requirement of a DPO reflect a higher risk involved with certain processing activities, whereas the requirements for an EU GDPR representative are triggered when your company’s processing of personal data of individuals located in the EU is noticeable.

What is the position of a DPO compared to an EU GDPR representative?

A Data Protection Officer (DPO) shall be involved in all issues related to the protection of personal data in a company. The role of a DPO is also to monitor the company’s compliance with GDPR, assist in data protection impact assessments, and to advise the management on privacy by design and privacy by default as well as all other privacy related matters. Hence, a DPO needs to be close to the company and needs to be involved in the day-to-day business. Whenever possible, the DPO shall be located in the region of the company’s headquarters. In comparison, the EU GDPR Representative is by nature operating at a distance when representing the company due to the lack of an establishment in the EU. The representative is therefore a substitution for a subsidiary, branch, or other establishment.

Can a DPO also be an EU GDPR representative or vice versa?

No, there is a conflict of interest between the roles of DPO and GDPR representative. The EDPB states in its Guidelines 03/2018 on the territorial scope that there is a possible conflict of obligation and interests in cases of enforcement proceedings. The EDPB does not consider the function of a representative in the EU to be compatible with the role of data processor for the same company, in particular when it comes to compliance with the respective responsibilities and compliance of a DPO and a representative.

How can our company appoint Prighter as our EU GDPR representative?

What is the process of appointing Prighter as our EU GDPR representative?

The onboarding process is simple and can be completed in a couple of minutes.

  1. We grant your company a free 14-day trial to keep the appointment completely risk-free.
  2. Choose a plan. The available plans depend on your company's size. The size of the company is defined according to the Eurostat categories which measure it by the number of people employed. 'Employees' in this definition includes part-time workers and freelancers.
  3. Enter your company's details.
  4. After registering, download the Power of Attorney (PoA). A signed PoA is required as evidence of the appointment of Prighter as your representative in case of requests from supervisory authorities. We kindly ask you to sign and upload your PoA.
  5. Our team will check and verify the provided information about your company and the PoA. This is usually done within a couple of hours.
  6. After the PoA has been approved, your company has successfully appointed Prighter as your Art. 27 GDPR representative for the whole EU. You can log in to your client area where you can find templates and information on what can be included in your homepage and privacy policy.
  7. Your risk-free 14-day trial period starts now.

Are we required to notify a data protection authority of our appointment of Prighter?

Contrary to the appointment of a DPO, you don't need to notify a data protection authority of the representation. If a data protection authority has an inquiry about a company, they take the necessary information from the company's privacy policy. However, please note that you will need to notify the relevant authority that you have appointed Prighter as your NIS representative.

We are a group of companies. Do you offer special options for groups?

Every separate entity requires representation according to Art. 27 GDPR. Nevertheless, Prighter offers your group the option to sign up for a group package to manage the representation of your affiliates through one main account, with sub-accounts for every affiliate. You will be required to internally select a centralised point of data protection management for the group to handle both the main account and the sub-accounts with one centralised login. The number of affiliates covered depends on the package you sign up for. The "small enterprise" package includes two affiliates, the "medium enterprise" package includes up to five affiliates, and the "large enterprise' package includes an unlimited number of affiliates. All included group entities must operate in the same industry, offer the same range of products, and have the same or a linked brand.

What does the service cost and what are the payment options?

Subscription pricing is based on your company size according to official Eurostat categories and the number of entities to be covered, starting from €39 per month. We offer a 14-day trial period on all subscriptions so that you can get to know our service before subscribing. Our pricing is transparent and there are no hidden costs as we do not charge per request from data subjects. You can choose between monthly, quarterly, or yearly payments. Your company gets a discount for quarterly payments and an even higher discount for the yearly payments option. Furthermore, you can choose between paying with credit card or via bank transfer. We accept almost all credit cards. Bank transfers are accepted in EUR, USD and GBP for annual payments. Please contact our support team should you have any further questions.

Frequently Asked Questions on Prighter UK-Rep

Does our company need an Art. 27 UK GDPR representative in the UK?

Is GDPR still applicable in the UK after Brexit?

Since GDPR is an EU regulation, it will generally no longer be applicable in the UK after Brexit. However, the UK government has incorporated GDPR into UK data protection law. So, from 1st January 2021 onwards, the UK version of GDPR, the “UK GDPR”, will be effective and companies will have to comply with it. Most requirements remain the same as in the EU GDPR, so companies that are already compliant with the EU GDPR will not have to make major amendments to comply with the UK GDPR. However, doing transborder business might lead to additional requirements such as appointing a UK representative or ensuring compliance regarding international data transfers to and from the UK.

Which companies need a UK representative after Brexit?

The UK government have stated that from 1st January 2021 onwards, companies who are located outside of the UK, whether in the EU or in a third country, and have no offices, branches, or other establishments in the UK, will have to appoint a UK representative, if they are processing personal data of individuals in the UK that relates to either:

  • offering goods or services to individuals in the UK; or
  • monitoring the behaviour of individuals in the UK.

Resources: ICO FAQs UK representatives

Does our company offer goods or services to individuals in the UK?

The EDPB has published guidelines on the territorial scope of the GDPR and appointing a representative (Guideline 3/2018). Even though these guidelines will not be directly relevant to the UK law anymore, the ICO stated that they still provide helpful guidance when dealing with specific issues. Hence, when determining the territorial scope of the GDPR the EDPB guidelines can help, as long as the UK government does not adopt new regulations concerning this topic. According to these guidelines, different factors are considered when determining if a company is offering their goods or services to individuals in the EU. Some factors to be considered, adjusted to a UK-only application, would be:

  • using language that is used in the UK and offering the UK currency GBP;
  • using ads to address UK individuals or other marketing tools directed towards UK customers;
  • mentioning addresses or phone numbers to be reached from the UK;
  • use of UK top-level domains;
  • offering delivery of goods to the UK.

Does our company monitor the behaviour of individuals in the UK?

Again, the guidelines of the EDPB can help to assess whether a company is monitoring the behaviour of UK individuals, as long as the UK government does not adopt new regulations (Guideline 3/2018). According to the EDPB guidelines, monitoring can take place both on the internet and through wearables and other smart devices. Some examples of monitoring activities would be:

  • behavioural advertisement
  • geo-localisation activities
  • online tracking by using cookies or other tracking technologies
  • market surveys and other behavioural studies based on individual profiles
  • CCTV

Are there any exemptions from this obligation?

If you are a public authority, there is no need for you to appoint a representative. Also, if your company fulfils all of the following criteria, there is no obligation to appoint a UK representative:

  • You are processing personal data only on an occasional basis; and
  • the data processing is of low risk to the data protection rights of the data subjects; and
  • there is no great extent of processing special categories of data or data concerning criminal offences.

Generally speaking, it is hard for companies to fulfil all criteria mentioned above which is why they are hardly ever able to take advantage of this exemption.

Resources: ICO FAQs UK representatives

What are the consequences in cases of non-compliance?

If your company is obligated to appoint a representative but fails to do so, fines of up to GBP 8.7 million or 2% of your annual global turnover (whichever is higher) can be issued.

What should I look for in a UK privacy representative? And what is Prighter’s approach?

What are the requirements of a UK privacy representative and how does Prighter meet these requirements?

Since your UK privacy representative should be able to represent you regarding your legal obligations under the UK GDPR, make sure the representative is not a PO tbox but a qualified privacy professional located in the UK. The representative should be appointed in writing and will act on your behalf regarding your compliance with UK GDPR, as well as functioning as a local contact point for UK data subjects and the UK supervisory authority, ICO.

How does Prighter match these requirements?

  • The UK privacy representation is provided by Prighter Ltd, a UK company which is part of Prighter Group powered by Maetzler Rechtsanwalts GmbH & Co KG;
  • With Prighter Ltd, trained lawyers and privacy professionals are available to support you in all UK related privacy matters and even beyond; and
  • A written appointment is part of the onboarding flow. Clients can sign a Power of Attorney directly online in an end-to-end digital process.

Resources: ICO FAQs UK representatives

What is Prighter's approach to UK GDPR representation?

Our goal is to enable companies without a subsidiary, branch or other establishment in the UK to comply with the UK privacy framework through a combination of legal expertise and technology to deliver this expertise. We put the practical insights we gain as a law firm (due to our role as the appointed Data Protection Officer for major banks, financial service providers, tech companies) into the development of our tools for handling Data Subject Requests (DSR) and data breaches, and for the management of records of processing activities. We support you in all privacy related matters, but above all we help your business to grow by enabling you to improve customer trust by handling privacy matters in an efficient and professional way.

What do I get by appointing Prighter as my UK Privacy Representative?

The core of our service is representation according to Art. 27 UK-GDPR. Around this requirement we have built features, services, and tools which enable you to leverage your compliance in order to increase efficiency and gain trust with your customers and partners. For more information about the services offered visit “UK-Rep Services”:

  • UK Representation:

By subscribing to the UK Privacy Representation Program, you appoint us as your certified UK Privacy Representative. Our highly professional team of lawyers and privacy professionals will give you the support you need to deal with requests from data subjects and data protection supervisory authorities.

  • Gain Trust:

We provide you with a Compliance Landing Page that you can customise for your brand and to include privacy and security related certificates as well as your privacy and cookie policies. This is your window to the world of privacy-related matters which helps you increase customer trust and confidence by demonstrating your privacy regulations readiness. The Compliance Landing Page also serves as an access point for privacy related requests which you can then easily manage with your GDPR Privacy Software tools.

  • Privacy Software Tools:

For any data subject requests (DSRs) from existing or potential clients we have built a tool to manage the lifecycle of such privacy requests. This saves you time, internal resources, and money, and reduces your compliance risk substantially. Furthermore, all standard requests from the ICO are covered (e.g. requests to submit records of processing activities).

How does Prighter handle requests from data subjects and the ICO?

This is where our innovation comes into play. We built the Data Subject Request (DSR) management tool to channel, structure, and filter all incoming privacy requests from clients and authorities. You can handle requests from millions of data subjects in one tool with the help of our proprietary AI technology. We cover and support all aspects of the formal handling of DSRs including the communication with data subjects. What actually needs to be done in your database (e. g. delete a data subject), is always your own decision. The DSR tool is designed to manage the lifecycle of a data subject request to get all formal aspects right and offer you a framework of advice.

Visit Prighter DSR

How do the requirements for the different types of representation relate to each other?

Do UK companies need an Art. 27 GDPR representative in the EU?

Generally, companies which have no offices, branches or other establishments in the EU/EEA need an Art 27 EU GDPR representative if they are:

  • offering goods or services to individuals in the EU/EEA; or
  • monitoring the behaviour of individuals in the EU/EEA.

After Brexit, the UK is no longer a Member State of the EU and consequently an establishment in the UK does not count as an EU/EEA establishment anymore, therefore this general rule will oblige UK companies, who fulfil the above criteria, to appoint an Art. 27 GDPR representative. So, if you are an UK company that reaches out to the EU/EEA market without having an establishment within the EU/EEA, you will be required to appoint an Art. 27 representative.

Are there any exemptions from this obligation?

If you are a public authority, you do not need to appoint a representative. Also, if you meet all the following criteria you are exempted from this obligation:

  • You are processing personal data only on an occasional basis; and
  • the processing is of low risk to the rights of the data subjects; AND
  • the processing does not involve large-scale usage of special categories of data or criminal offence data.

For any further questions concerning the appointment of an Art. 27 GDPR representative please see our Art. 27 EU GDPR FAQ.

Do companies that are based outside the UK and the EU/EEA need two representatives now?

Companies which are established outside the UK and the EU/EEA and neither have an establishment within the UK nor the EU/EEA but are

  • offering goods or services to individuals in the EU/EEA; or
  • monitoring the behaviour of individuals in the EU/EEA.

will have to appoint two representatives, in both the EU and the UK, in order to comply with EU regulations on one hand, and UK regulations on the other.

Since Prighter has offices in the EU as well as in the UK, we are able to offer you EU representation as well as UK representation.

How can our company appoint Prighter as our UK privacy representative?

What is the process of appointing Prighter as our UK privacy representative?

The onboarding process is simple and can be completed in a couple of minutes, but the best part is:

  1. We grant your company a risk-free 14 day trial to make the appointment completely risk-free.
  2. Choose a plan. The available plans depend on your company's size. The size of the company is defined according to the Eurostat categories and thereforeby the number of persons employed. 'Employees' includes part-timeworkers and freelancers.
  3. Enter your company's details. Your risk-free 14 day trial period starts when you complete this step.
  4. After registering, you will find a download button for the Power of Attorney (PoA). A signed PoA is required as evidence of the appointment of Prighter as your representative in case of requests by supervisory authorities. We kindly ask you to sign and upload your PoA.
  5. Our team will check and verify the provided information on your company and the PoA. This is usually done within a couple of hours.
  6. After the PoA has been approved, your company has successfully appointed Prighter as it's UK privacy representative. You can log in to your client area where you can find templates and information on what you can include in your homepage and privacy policy.

Are we required to notify the ICO of our appointment of Prighter?

Contrary to the appointment of a DPO, you don't need to notify the ICO of the representation. In the event that the ICO has an inquiry about a company, they take the necessary information from the company's privacy policy.

Please note that contrary to UK privacy representation, a NIS representation needs to be notified to the ICO.

We are a group of companies. Do you offer special options for groups?

Every separate entity requires representation according to Art 27 UK GDPR. Nevertheless, Prighter offers your group the option to sign up for a group package to manage the representation of your affiliates through one main account, with sub-accounts for every affiliate. You will be required to internally select a centralised point of data protection management for the group to handle both the main account and the sub-accounts with one centralised login. The number of affiliates covered depends on the package you signed up for. The "small enterprise" package includes two affiliates, the "medium enterprise" package includes up to 5 affiliates, and the "large enterprise' package includes an unlimited number of affiliates. All included group entities must operate in the same industry, offer the same range of products, and have the same or a linked brand.

What does the service cost and what are the payment options?

Subscription pricing is based on your company size according to official Eurostat categories and the number of entities to be covered, starting from €19 per month. We offer a 14-day trial period on all subscriptions so that you can get to know our service without any risk. All of our pricing is transparent and there are no hidden costs as we do not charge per request from data subjects. You can choose between monthly, quarterly, or yearly payments. Your company gets a discount for quarterly payments and an even higher discount for the yearly payments option.

Furthermore, you can choose between paying with credit card, or via bank transfer. We accept almost all credit cards. Bank transfers are acceptable in EUR, USD and GBP for annual payments. Please contact our support team should you have any further questions!

Turkish Data Protection Regulation (KVKK) FAQ

Is our organisation subject to KVKK?

KVKK applies to all organisations processing personal data of data subjects in Turkey. Insofar KVKK reaches out globally and regulates all processing activities related to Turkish individuals.

Exempted from the applicability of KVKK are only:

  • household activities;
  • official statistics with anonymised data;
  • artistical, historical, literary or scientific purpose if national defence, national security, public security, public order, economic security are not violated;
  • preventive, protective and intelligence activities by public bodies which are assigned by law to protect the above-mentioned public goods;
  • processing by judicial or execution authorities with regard to investigation, prosecution, judicial and execution proceedings.

All other processing activities by foreign organisations are therefore subject to KVKK and need to comply with it, especially with the obligation to appoint a Data Controller Representative and to register with Data Controllers' Registry Information System (VERBIS).

Does our company need a Data Controller Representative in Turkey?

You are required to appoint a Data Controller Representative in Turkey if your organisation:

  • is acting as a Data Controller and not as a processor;
  • is processing personal data of individuals in Turkey; and
  • is not established in Turkey.

Is our company a Data Controller under KVKK?

An organisation qualifies as a data controller under KVKK if it determines the purposes and means of processing personal data and is responsible for the establishment and management of the technical infrastructure to process such data. In contrast, a processor under KVKK is an organisation which processes personal data on behalf of the data controller upon its authorisation. The concept is therefore identical with the GDPR and the decisive criteria is, if an organisation has the authority to decide over and define the processing activities.

Are we processing personal data of data subjects in Turkey?

Processing means any operation which is performed on personal data with at least partially automated means, such as collection, recording, storage, protection, alteration, adaptation, disclosure, transfer, retrieval, making available for collection, categorisation, preventing the use thereof and much more. The term is therefore very broad and intends to include any handling of personal data. Are subject to such processing activities individuals in Turkey, your organisation falls under KVKK. Examples are:

  • having active business in Turkey with customers, users, students, patients, which are Turkish data subjects;
  • any attempt to target Turkish individuals with google ads or any other online marketing campaign;
  • monitoring Turkish individuals with cookies, behavioural advertisement, geo-localisation activities.

If your organisation qualifies as a controller and processes personal data of Turkish individuals, you are required to appoint a Data Controller Representative according to KVKK.

Are there any exemptions?

Besides those companies which process personal data only by non-automatic means, the following organisations are exempted from the obligation to appoint a representative:

  • Certain professions like notary publics, law and accounting firms;
  • Trade unions;
  • Political parties.

What is a VERBIS registration?

VERBIS is the Data Controllers' Registry Information System established on the basis of art 16 KVKK. Before processing personal data, a Data Controller must register in VERBIS.

How does the registration work?

For Foreign Data Controllers the registration can only be conducted by the representative. You first need to appoint a Data Controller Representative who then takes care of the registration.

The registration requires a list of processing activities similar to the records of processing activities under GDPR. The representative enters these processing activities in the VERBIS interface (verbis.kvkk.gov.tr) to complete the registration.

What is the deadline for the registration?

The deadline was extended several times but will end now on December 31st, 2021.

Fines in KVKK

Not appointing a Data Controller Representative although being required to do so, may trigger sanctions according to Art. 18 of the CCCTB. Non-compliance fines are increased every year and are now about 2 million Turkish Lira as of 2022. Be aware that the increase from 2021 to 2022 is as high as 36,20%.

How does the Prighter Turkey DCR work?

How to sign up for the Prighter Turkey DCR service?

As Turkish law contains formal requirements for signatures and the VERBIS registration an end-end digital process is not compliant. Therefore, the signup process is as follows:

  1. Complete the signup form with your company information and generate the Power of Attorney (PoA).
  2. Have the PoA duly signed, notarised and apostilled at the place of signature.
  3. Send us the scanned version of the PoA followed by the originals to our Turkish address via registered mail.
  4. We have the PoA notarised in Turkey and handle the VERBIS registration.

Who is the service provider for the Prighter Turkey DCR?

Prighter partners with IPTECH Legal Danışmanlık Ltd. Şti for the Prighter Turkey DCR service and Ozdagistanli Ekici Attorney Partnership for the legal advice according to Turkish law. The client relationship, support and payments are centralised and managed by Prighter Group.

Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) FAQ

Does the FADP apply to my company?

Does the Swiss FADP apply to our organization?

The FADP applies to the processing of personal data by private controllers and federal bodies. Like the GDPR, the FADP has extra-territorial scope, meaning that it applies to companies located outside of Switzerland. The extra-territorial scope of the FADP is, however, broader than that of the GDPR because it covers all circumstances that have an effect in Switzerland, even if the action was initiated from abroad. This is known as the “effect doctrine”. According to the effect doctrine not just data processing activities related to Swiss individuals are subject to the FADP. Any processing operations performed on servers in Switzerland will be caught by the FADP, even if such operations are carried out from abroad.

Does my company need a Swiss FADP Representative?

There is one significant difference between the requirement to appoint a representative under the GDPR (Art 27) and the requirement under Art. 14 of the FADP. Whereas the GDPR requires companies without an establishment in the EU to appoint a representative, the requirement to appoint a representative is triggered under the FADP by an organisation not having a corporate seat in Switzerland. What does this mean? It means that companies with a branch or any other type of establishment in Switzerland that are not a corporate seat are still required to appoint a Swiss representative if they:

  • offer goods or services to individuals in Switzerland (targeting criterion) or monitor their behaviour (monitoring criterion); and
  • their processing activities are regular, on a large scale and pose a high risk to data subjects.

Does my company offer services or products according to Art 14 FADP?

The wording of the targeting criterion under Art 14 FADP is nearly identical to the wording of Art 3(2) GDPR. For that reason, and in the absence of any guidance from the Swiss authorities, we can assume that the same types of activities as those set out in guidance from the European Data Protection Board will trigger the targeting criterion under Swiss law. It is expected that the Swiss authorities will publish their own guidelines in due course. Until then, factors that may be considered to result in an “offering of goods or services” to individuals in Switzerland could be:

  • using languages used in Switzerland and offering payments in CHF;
  • using ads to address Swiss individuals or other marketing tools directed towards Swiss customers;
  • mentioning addresses or phone numbers to be reached from Switzerland;
  • use of Swiss top-level domains;
  • offering delivery of goods to Switzerland.

Does my company analyse and assess the activities of individuals inside of Switzerland?

Again, until such a time as there is guidance from Swiss officials on the interpretation of the monitoring criterion, we assume the following activities, as set out in guidance relating to the GDPR, are likely to trigger the requirement to appoint a representative:

  • behavioural advertisement
  • geo-localisation activities
  • online tracking by using cookies or other tracking technologies
  • market surveys and other behavioural studies based on individual profiles

What fine may be imposed for non-compliance?

The FADP carries heavy penalties. In contrast to GDPR, however, these are not directed at companies, but at the responsible natural persons behind the breaching organisation. Instead of administrative fines, the FADP sanctions violations with criminal liabilities. The penalties can amount to up to CHF 250,000.

EU AI Act Authorised Representative FAQs

What is the EU AI Act?

The EU Artificial Intelligence Act is the world’s first comprehensive AI regulation. It categorises AI systems based on risk and establishes legal requirements for their development, placement on the market, and use within the EU. The Act applies to any organisation — including those outside the EU — if their systems impact people within the Union.

What is an Authorised Representative?

An Authorised Representative is a legal entity based in the EU that acts on behalf of an AI provider located outside the EU. This representative holds a written mandate to carry out specific legal tasks — including acting as a contact point for authorities and holding technical documentation to support post-market compliance.

Who needs to appoint an Authorised Representative?

Any provider of an AI system subject to the AI Act — who is not established in the EU — must appoint a sole Authorised Representative. This includes:

  • Providers of high-risk AI systems under Title III, Chapter 1
  • Providers of General-Purpose AI models, depending on deployment
  • Non-EU companies placing AI systems on the EU market or putting them into service in the Union

This requirement applies regardless of company size and includes developers, deployers, and third-country suppliers whose AI systems reach the EU.

Why should I use Prighter as my Authorised Representative?

Prighter’s Authorised Representative Services ensure that you to comply with the law, maintain required documentation, and ensure cooperation with market surveillance authorities.

Prighter delivers:

  • A legally established representation in the EU
  • An official contact point and cooperates with competent authorities and provides all required information or documentation.
  • Prompt notifications of any requests from market surveillance authorities.
  • Support for post-market obligations, including Article 26 reporting and Article 61 cooperation duties.

Our Authorised Representative Services give you the peace of mind that your business is compliant — so that you can focus on what you do best.

Digital Service Act (DSA) explained

What is the Digital Service Act (DSA)?

What is the main goal of the DSA?

The DSA is aimed against illegal and harmful content and goods as well as the spread of disinformation in the digital world. It shall ensure user safety, protect fundamental rights, and create a fair and open online platform environment.

What type of law is the DSA?

The DSA is an EU regulation and therefore directly applicable in all EU Member States without any additional transposition into national law. The regulation was established on the Union level to harmonise diverging national law and to avoid regulatory fragmentation which adversely affects the single market.

Which are the competent authorities under the DSA?

On a national level there is not one competent authority, but multiple authorities may be granted competences for subjects matters covered by the DSA under national law. To streamline and coordinate these authorities each Member State designates a Digital Services Coordinator as the single point of contact (for a list see here).

On an EU level the European Commission as well as the European Board for Digital Services have a broad set of competences under the DSA which range from issuing implementation guidelines to supervisory functions.

What is the broader context of the DSA?

The DSA together with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) forms part of the Digital Services Act package (learn more) which again is embedded in the Digital Agenda for Europe (learn more).

What is the scope of the DSA?

When does the DSA apply?

The DSA applies to online intermediary services with additional rules for hosting services, online platforms and very large online platforms and search engines (VLOPs and VLOSEs) when offering intermediary services, irrespective of where the providers have their place of establishment.

Does the DSA apply to non-EU companies?

The DSA applies irrespective of where the providers have their place of establishment. This means that also non-EU providers are caught by the extra-territorial scope of the DSA when offering intermediary services to business users, consumers and other users (recipients of the service).

What constitutes "offering intermediary services"?

To qualify as an "offering", an intermediary service needs to be accessible by EU recipients and needs to have a substantial connection to the EU. Besides an establishment a substantial connection results from specific factual criteria such as:

  • a significant number of recipients of the service in the EU;
  • the targeting of activities towards the EU.

What is a significant number of recipients of the service?

Whether the number of recipients in one or more Member States is significant depends on the relation to the whole population.

What is "targeting of activities"?

To determine, if a provider is targeting its activities towards recipients in the EU, all circumstances are relevant. Especially the use of a language or a currency generally or the possibility of ordering products or services, or the use of a relevant top-level domain indicate the targeting of recipients. Furthermore, the availability of an application in the relevant national application store, local advertising or advertising in a language used in that Member State, or the handling of customer relations in such language are factors which may result in a targeting. In contrast, mere technical accessibility of a website from the Union cannot, on that ground alone, be considered as establishing a substantial connection to the Union.

Which type of organisations need to comply with the DSA?

What are Intermediary Services?

Regardless of any additional classification under another type of business regulated by the DSA Intermediary Services include “Mere Conduit” Services (e.g. Internet Service Provider „ISP“), "Caching” Services (e.g. Content Delivery Networks "CDNs"), “Hosting” Services (e.g. cloud computing, web hosting, paid referencing services or services enabling sharing information and content online, including file storage and sharing.)

What are Hosting Services?

Hosting Services involve the storage of information provided by users (e.g. cloud computing, web hosting, paid referencing services or services enabling sharing information and content online, including file storage and sharing.)

What are Online Platforms?

Online Platforms bring together sellers and consumers. (e.g. online marketplaces, app stores, collaborative economy platforms and social media platforms).

What are very large online platforms and search engines?

Online platforms and search engines reaching more than 10% of 450 million consumers in Europe are classified as very large. Because of the particular risks associated with the dissemination of illegal content and societal harms, specific rules apply for VLOPs and VLOSEs.

What is the role of the legal representative under Art 13 DSA?

Do all General-Purpose AI providers need an Authorised Representative?

Yes, if your business is located outside the EU but your GPAI model’s output is used within the EU, the AI Act requires you to appoint an Authorised Representative by August 2025. 

What does Prighter do as my Authorised Representative?

Prighter manages your obligations under the AI Act: we keep your documentation audit-ready, handle communications with regulators, manage registration with authorities, and support you in meeting compliance requirements so you can focus on innovation.  

How does Prighter interact with EU regulators on my behalf?

Prighter serves as your single, trusted point of contact for the AI Office and national authorities across the EU. We handle all official communications, respond to information requests, and manage registrations or updates — ensuring your business always presents a professional and compliant front to regulators. 

EU Data Act Representative FAQ's

EU Data Act Representative

Any company established outside the EU that makes connected products available or provides services (related and unrelated) in the Union must designate an EU legal representative (Art. 37(11)). 

What happens if we do not appoint a representative?

Until a representative is designated, all Member States’ authorities may exercise their competence, including the power to impose proportionate and dissuasive penalties (Art. 37(14)). 

How does the Data Act interact with the GDPR?

The Data Act applies without prejudice to the GDPR. Where personal data is involved, data protection authorities remain responsible for enforcement, and GDPR obligations continue to apply alongside the Data Act. 

NIS Darstellung EU FAQ

Gilt die NIS-Richtlinie für unser Unternehmen?

Wer muss sich an die NIS halten?

Die Richtlinie über die Sicherheit von Netz- und Informationssystemen (NIS2) aktualisiert die ursprüngliche NIS 1, um die Cybersicherheit in wichtigen Sektoren der EU zu verbessern, erweitert ihren Anwendungsbereich auf weitere Branchen und führt strengere Anforderungen ein.

Es handelt sich um:

  • Betreiber von wesentlichen Diensten (OES) z.B. in den Bereichen Energie, Bankwesen, Transport, digitale Infrastruktur, ICT-Service-Management (B2B); und
  • Betreiber wichtiger Dienste wie Postdienste, Abfallwirtschaft, Forschung, digitale Anbieter.

Es gilt für Unternehmen, die:

  • Erreichen Sie die Schwellenwerte
  • Ein Unternehmen in der EU haben.
  • Sind außerhalb der EU ansässig, bieten jedoch ihre Dienstleistungen innerhalb der EU an.

Was ist ein Digitaler Dienstleister?

Ein Digitaler Dienstleister ist jede juristische Person, die einen digitalen Dienst anbietet.

  • Online-Marktplätze: Ein Online-Marktplatz ist eine Plattform, die den Verkauf oder Verträge erleichtert (z. B. App-Stores). Der Begriff umfasst nicht Online-Dienste, die nur als Vermittler für Drittanbieterdienste fungieren, über die letztendlich ein Vertrag abgeschlossen werden kann.
  • Online-Suchmaschinen: Eine Online-Suchmaschine ermöglicht die Suche auf Websites. Suchfunktionen, die auf den Inhalt einer bestimmten Website beschränkt sind, auch wenn die Funktion von einer externen Suchmaschine bereitgestellt wird, sind nicht in der NIS-Richtlinie enthalten. Online-Dienste, die den Preis bestimmter Produkte oder Dienstleistungen von verschiedenen Händlern vergleichen und den Benutzer dann zum bevorzugten Händler weiterleiten, um das Produkt zu kaufen, sind ebenfalls nicht enthalten.
  • Anbieter von sozialen Netzwerkplattformen: Eine soziale Netzwerkplattform, die Kommunikation und Inhaltsfreigabe zwischen Benutzern auf verschiedenen Geräten ermöglicht.

Was fällt unter den Bereich der digitalen Infrastruktur?

  • Internet Exchange Point Anbieter: Netzwerke zur Verbindung von autonomen Systemen.
  • DNS-Dienstanbieter, mit Ausnahme von Betreibern von Root-Nameservern: Dienstanbieter, die Domainnamenauflösung anbieten.
  • TLD-Namenregistrierungen: ist eine Einrichtung, der ein bestimmtes TLD delegiert wurde und die für die Verwaltung des TLD, einschließlich der Registrierung von Domainnamen unter dem TLD und dem technischen Betrieb des TLD, verantwortlich ist.
  • Cloud-Computing-Service-Anbieter: Cloud-Computing-Dienste ermöglichen den Zugriff auf einen skalierbaren und elastischen Pool von gemeinsam nutzbaren Rechenressourcen wie Netzwerken, Servern oder anderen Infrastrukturen, Speicher, Anwendungen und Diensten. Drei Eigenschaften qualifizieren einen Cloud-Computing-Dienst als Cloud-Service:
    • Skalierbare Ressourcen
    • Elastischer Pool von Ressourcen
    • Teilbar
  • Verschiedene Geschäftsmodelle wie IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service) oder SaaS (Software as a Service) sind in der NIS2 enthalten.
  • Rechenzentrumsdienstleister: Ein Rechenzentrum ist eine Einrichtung, die IT- und Netzwerkgeräte zur Datenspeicherung, -verarbeitung und -übertragung sowie Infrastruktur für die Stromverteilung und Umweltkontrolle beherbergt.
  • Ein Content Delivery Network-Anbieter ist ein Netzwerk von geografisch verteilten Servern, das darauf abzielt, eine hohe Verfügbarkeit, Zugänglichkeit oder schnelle Bereitstellung von digitalen Inhalten und Diensten für Internetnutzer im Auftrag von Inhalt- und Diensteanbietern sicherzustellen.
  • Vertrauensdiensteanbieter: Bietet elektronische Dienste gegen Entgelt an, die die Erstellung, Überprüfung und Validierung von elektronischen Signaturen, Siegeln, Zeitstempeln, registrierten Zustelldiensten und zugehörigen Zertifikaten umfassen; oder die Erstellung, Überprüfung und Validierung von Zertifikaten für die Website-Authentifizierung; oder die Aufbewahrung von elektronischen Signaturen, Siegeln oder zugehörigen Zertifikaten.
  • Anbieter öffentlicher elektronischer Kommunikationsnetze: Bietet Übertragungssysteme einschließlich Infrastruktur, Umschaltung, Routing und Ressourcen, die Signale über Draht, Funk, optische oder andere elektromagnetische Mittel wie Satellit, Internet, Mobil- und Kabelnetze übertragen. Dies umfasst Systeme, die für Radio, Fernsehen und Rundfunk verwendet werden.
  • Anbieter von öffentlich zugänglichen elektronischen Kommunikationsdiensten: Ein Dienst, der in der Regel gegen Entgelt über elektronische Kommunikationsnetze angeboten wird und mit Ausnahme von Diensten, die Inhalte über elektronische Kommunikationsnetze und -dienste übertragen oder redaktionelle Kontrolle ausüben, die folgenden Arten von Diensten umfasst:
    • Internetzugangsdienst
    • zwischenmenschlicher Kommunikationsdienst; und
    • Dienstleistungen, die ganz oder hauptsächlich in der Übermittlung von Signalen bestehen, wie Übertragungsdienste, die für die Bereitstellung von Maschine-zu-Maschine-Diensten und für Rundfunkdienste verwendet werden.

Was fällt unter den Sektor ICT Service Management (Business-to-Business)?

  • Managed Service Provider: Bietet Dienstleistungen im Zusammenhang mit der Installation, Verwaltung, Betrieb oder Wartung von ICT-Produkten, Netzwerken, Infrastrukturen, Anwendungen oder anderen Netzwerk- und Informationssystemen an, entweder durch Unterstützung oder aktive Verwaltung, die entweder beim Kunden vor Ort oder remote durchgeführt wird.
  • Managed Security Provider: Ein Anbieter, der Aktivitäten im Zusammenhang mit dem Risikomanagement für Cybersicherheit durchführt oder Unterstützung dabei bietet.

Bietet mein Unternehmen Dienstleistungen in der EU an?

Bei der Feststellung, ob ein Unternehmen seine Dienstleistungen innerhalb der EU anbietet, ist die wichtige Information, welche Märkte das Unternehmen plant, seine Dienstleistungen anzubieten. Um die Absicht festzustellen, werden verschiedene Faktoren berücksichtigt. Die bloße Zugänglichkeit der Website des Unternehmens oder eines Vermittlers oder einer E-Mail-Adresse oder anderer Kontaktdaten oder die Verwendung einer Sprache, die im Allgemeinen in der Region verwendet wird, in der das Unternehmen ansässig ist, reicht nicht aus, um eine solche Absicht festzustellen. Stattdessen können Faktoren wie die Verwendung einer Sprache oder einer Währung, die im Allgemeinen in einem oder mehreren Mitgliedstaaten verwendet wird, und die Möglichkeit, Dienstleistungen in dieser anderen Sprache zu bestellen, oder die Erwähnung von Kunden oder Benutzern, die sich in der Union befinden, ein Hinweis darauf sein, dass das Unternehmen beabsichtigt, seine Dienstleistungen in einer Region anzubieten, in der es seinen Hauptsitz nicht hat.

Gibt es Ausnahmen von dieser Verpflichtung?

Wenn Ihr Unternehmen keinen Sitz in der EU hat, aber die genannten digitalen Dienste in diesen Regionen anbietet, sind Sie in der Regel verpflichtet, einen NIS-Vertreter zu benennen. Die Verpflichtung zur Einhaltung des NIS2 und zur Benennung eines Vertreters gilt jedoch nicht für Unternehmen, die eine bestimmte Unternehmensgröße nicht überschreiten. Ausgenommen sind:

  • Kleine Unternehmen, die als Unternehmen definiert sind, die weniger als 50 Personen beschäftigen und deren jährlicher Umsatz und/oder jährliche Bilanzsumme 10 Millionen nicht übersteigt; und
  • Kleinunternehmen, die als Unternehmen definiert sind, die weniger als 10 Personen beschäftigen und deren jährlicher Umsatz und/oder jährliche Bilanzsumme 2 Millionen nicht überschreiten.

Alles in allem bedeutet dies, dass Sie keinen Vertreter bestellen müssen, wenn Ihr Unternehmen weniger als 50 Mitarbeiter hat und der jährliche Umsatz und/oder die jährliche Bilanzsumme weniger als 10 Millionen beträgt.

Was sind die Hauptverpflichtungen für Einrichtungen gemäß der NIS-Richtlinie?

Was die Einrichtungen betrifft, die in den Anwendungsbereich der NIS2 fallen, sind die Hauptverpflichtungen wie folgt:

  • Cybersicherheitsrisikomanagementmaßnahmen: DSPs müssen angemessene und angemessene technische und organisatorische Maßnahmen identifizieren und ergreifen, um Risiken für die Sicherheit von Netzwerken und Informationssystemen zu bewältigen, die sie im Rahmen der Erbringung ihrer Dienste innerhalb der EU nutzen.
    Meldepflicht: Unternehmen sind verpflichtet, spezifische Meldefristen im Falle eines bedeutenden Cyber-Sicherheitsvorfalls einzuhalten. Zu den wichtigsten Verpflichtungen gehören:
  • Frühwarnung: Bericht innerhalb von 24 Stunden nach Kenntnisnahme eines bedeutenden Vorfalls, der darauf hinweist, ob es sich um rechtswidrige Handlungen handeln könnte oder grenzüberschreitende Auswirkungen haben könnte.
  • Vorfallbenachrichtigung: Reichen Sie innerhalb von 72 Stunden eine detaillierte Vorfallbenachrichtigung ein, die eine erste Bewertung, Schweregrad, Auswirkungen und verfügbare Kompromittierungsindikatoren enthält.
  • Zwischenbericht: Geben Sie Statusaktualisierungen auf Anfrage der zuständigen Behörde oder des CSIRT.
  • Abschlussbericht: Reichen Sie innerhalb eines Monats einen detaillierten Abschlussbericht ein, der die Beschreibung des Vorfalls, die Ursache, die Maßnahmen zur Minderung und mögliche grenzüberschreitende Auswirkungen umfasst.
  • Vertreter: Unternehmen, die nicht in der EU ansässig sind, aber bestimmte Dienstleistungen innerhalb der EU anbieten, müssen einen Vertreter ernennen, der im Namen des Unternehmens handelt. Diese Unternehmen umfassen:
    • DNS-Dienstanbieter
    • Top-Level-Domain (TLD)-Registrierungen
    • Anbieter von Domain-Namen-Registrierungsdiensten
    • Cloud-Computing-Service-Anbieter
    • Rechenzentrumsdienstleister
    • Content Delivery Network (CDN) Anbieter
    • Verwaltete Dienstleister
    • Verwaltete Sicherheitsdienstleister
    • Anbieter von Online-Marktplätzen
    • Online Suchmaschinen
    • Soziale Netzwerkdienste Plattformen

Wo muss unser Unternehmen einen NIS-Vertreter ernennen?

Mit welchem NIS-Gesetz muss ich mich in Einklang bringen?

Im Gegensatz zur DSGVO, die ein einheitliches Gesetz in allen EU-Mitgliedstaaten ist, wurde die NIS2 von jedem Mitgliedstaat individuell in nationales Recht umgesetzt. Das anwendbare nationale Recht für Ihr Unternehmen, das als wesentliches oder wichtiges Unternehmen gilt und die relevanten Schwellenwerte überschreitet:

  • Wenn Ihr Unternehmen eine oder mehrere Niederlassungen innerhalb der EU hat, unterliegt es der Rechtsprechung des Mitgliedstaats, in dem sich seine Hauptniederlassung befindet (d. h. wo sich Ihr Hauptsitz befindet);
  • Wenn Ihr Unternehmen nicht innerhalb der EU ansässig ist, aber ICT-Dienstleistungen, digitale Infrastruktur oder digitale Dienste innerhalb der EU anbietet, müssen Sie einen Vertreter in einem Mitgliedstaat ernennen, in dem Sie Ihre Dienste anbieten. Ihr Unternehmen unterliegt dann der Gerichtsbarkeit dieses Staates.

Muss unser Unternehmen einen Vertreter gemäß Artikel 26 Absatz 3 der NIS2-Richtlinie in der EU benennen?

Gemäß Art. 26 Abs. 3 der NIS2-Richtlinie (und den meisten Umsetzungen im nationalen Recht) müssen digitale Diensteanbieter:

  • sind nicht in der EU ansässig; und
  • Anbieter bestimmter digitaler Dienste innerhalb der EU müssen einen Vertreter in der EU benennen, der in einem der Mitgliedstaaten ansässig ist, in dem die Dienste angeboten werden.

Was sind die möglichen Konsequenzen bei Nichteinhaltung?

Da das NIS2-Gesetz eine EU-Richtlinie ist, die von jedem Mitgliedstaat unterschiedlich umgesetzt wird, variieren die Strafen. Das Gesetz legt jedoch einige Geldbußenrahmen für Mitgliedstaaten fest, die den Anforderungen zur Umsetzung von Sicherheitsmaßnahmen und Incident-Responses nicht nachkommen. Gemäß dem Gesetz können wesentliche Einrichtungen mit Geldstrafen von bis zu 10 Millionen Euro oder 2 % ihres weltweiten Jahresumsatzes belegt werden. Wichtige Einrichtungen können mit Geldstrafen von bis zu 7 Millionen Euro oder 1,4 % ihres weltweiten Jahresumsatzes konfrontiert werden.

Wie kann unser Unternehmen Prighter als unseren Vertreter ernennen?

Welche allgemeinen Anforderungen gelten bei der Bestellung eines Vertreters und welche Verpflichtungen hat der Vertreter?

Der Vertreter sollte durch einen schriftlichen Auftrag der Anbieter von digitalen Diensten, digitalen Infrastrukturen und ICT-Service-Managements ausdrücklich benannt werden. Es sollte für die zuständigen Behörden oder das Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) möglich sein, den Vertreter zu kontaktieren, da der Vertreter als lokaler Ansprechpartner fungiert. Der Vertreter handelt im Namen der DSP-Anbieter in Bezug auf die gesetzlichen Verpflichtungen nach dem NIS-Gesetz, einschließlich der Vorfallmeldung. Der Vertreter muss die lokalen nationalen Gesetze einhalten, in dem Land, in dem er ansässig ist.

Wie erfüllt Prighter diese Anforderungen?

Prighter verfügt über einen digitalen End-to-End-Onboarding-Prozess, bei dem eine Vollmacht generiert und online oder auf Papier unterzeichnet werden kann. Prighter bietet dedizierte Kommunikationskanäle mit den relevanten Datenschutzbehörden.

NIS UK Representation FAQ

Does the NIS-Directive apply to our company?

Is NIS still applicable in the UK?

Yes, the Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations remain fully applicable in the United Kingdom. Originally based on the European NIS Directive, the UK transposed these requirements into its own national legislation as the UK NIS Regulations 2018. Despite Brexit, these regulations have been retained and continue to ensure robust network and information system security within the UK. Therefore, the UK NIS Regulations remain in effect and enforceable post-Brexit.

Who must comply with the UK NIS regulations?

The UK Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018 apply to:

  • Operators of Essential Services (OES): Organizations in sectors such as energy, banking, transport, health, water, and digital infrastructure.
  • Digital Service Providers (DSPs): Including online search engines, online marketplaces, and cloud computing services.

These regulations apply to DSPs that:

  • Provide at least one of the following services: an online search engine, an online marketplace, or cloud computing services.
  • Do not meet the definition of a micro or small enterprise, meaning they have 50 or more employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet exceeding €10 million.

Note that if the DSP's head office is outside the UK, it is required to appoint a UK-based representative to comply with these regulations.

By ensuring these organizations implement robust security measures and report significant incidents, the UK NIS Regulations help maintain the resilience and security of critical services across the United Kingdom.

What is a Digital Service Provider?

A Digital Service Provider (DSP) is any legal entity that offers digital services subject to the UK Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018. It is important to note that not all digital services are subject to these obligations—only specific services are covered.

Online Marketplaces: An Online Marketplace is a platform that allows consumers and traders to conduct online sales or service contracts with traders. These marketplaces serve as the final destination for the conclusion of these contracts. For example, application stores that enable the digital distribution of applications or software programs from third parties are considered online marketplaces. However, the term does not include online services that function solely as intermediaries to third-party services through which a contract can ultimately be concluded.

Online Search Engines: An Online Search Engine allows users to perform searches of websites based on queries on any subject. This includes search engines that operate across all languages. However, search functions that are limited to the content of a specific website, even if provided by an external search engine, are not included under the UK NIS Regulations. Additionally, online services that compare the prices of particular products or services from different traders and then redirect users to preferred traders to purchase the product are also excluded.

Cloud Computing Services: Cloud Computing Services enable access to a scalable and elastic pool of shareable computing resources such as networks, servers, storage, applications, and services. To qualify as a cloud computing service under the UK NIS Regulations, the service must exhibit the following three properties:

  • Scalable Resources: Resources can be flexibly allocated by the cloud service provider, regardless of their geographical location, to handle fluctuations in demand.
  • Elastic Pool of Resources: Computing resources are provisioned and released according to demand, allowing for rapid increases or decreases in available resources based on workload.
  • Shareable: Computing resources are provided to multiple users who share common access to the service. However, the processing is carried out separately for each user, even though the service is provided from the same electronic equipment.

Different business models such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS) are included under the UK NIS Regulations. Additionally, hybrid models and other variations that meet the definition of enabling access to scalable, elastic, and shareable computing resources are also covered.

Exemptions: Small and Micro Businesses

There is a general exemption for micro and small businesses under the UK NIS Regulations. If your digital service provider has:

  • Fewer than 50 staff, and
  • An annual turnover and/or balance sheet below €10 million,

you are not classified as a DSP and are exempt from NIS obligations.
This exemption also includes sole traders. However, if your service is part of a larger group, you must assess whether the total staffing numbers and financial thresholds of the entire group exceed the small business exemption criteria.

Does my company offer services in the EU or the UK?

Determining whether your company offers services in the UK involves assessing the markets you intend to target. Simply having a website accessible in English is not sufficient to establish this intent. Instead, consider the following factors:

  • Use of UK-Specific Language or Currency: Offering services priced in GBP or providing content tailored to British English indicates an intention to serve UK customers.
  • Ordering Capabilities: Allowing customers to place orders or access services specifically designed for the UK market suggests service provision within the UK.
  • Marketing and Targeting Efforts: Directing marketing campaigns towards the UK or establishing customer support based in the UK are strong indicators of offering services in the region.

Are there any exemptions from this obligation?

Yes, there are exemptions. If your company does not have an establishment in the UK but offers digital services within the UK, you are generally obliged to appoint a UK NIS representative under the UK Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018. However, this obligation does not apply to:

  • Small Enterprises: Companies employing fewer than 50 persons and with an annual turnover and/or annual balance sheet total not exceeding €10 million.
  • Microenterprises: Companies employing fewer than 10 persons and with an annual turnover and/or annual balance sheet total not exceeding €2 million.

Therefore, if your company has fewer than 50 employees and an annual turnover and/or annual balance sheet total below €10 million, you are exempt from the requirement to appoint a UK NIS representative.

What are the main obligations for DSPs under the UK NIS Regulations?

Under the UK Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018, Digital Service Providers (DSPs) have several key obligations to ensure the security and resilience of their network and information systems when offering services within the United Kingdom:

Technical and Organisational Measure
DSPs must identify and implement appropriate and proportionate technical and organisational measures to manage risks posed to the security of the network and information systems they use.

These measures should:

  • Manage Risks: Address risks that could compromise the availability, authenticity, integrity, or confidentiality of data and services.
  • Proportionality: Be appropriate to the potential impact of the risk, considering the state of the art and cost of implementation.
  • Preventive Actions: Include measures to prevent cybersecurity incidents where possible.

Incident Management and Impact Minimisation
DSPs are required to:

  • Prevent Incidents: Take steps to prevent incidents that could affect the security of their network and information systems.
  • Minimise Impact: Implement measures to minimize the impact of any incidents that do occur, with the goal of ensuring the continuity of their digital services.
  • Recovery Plans: Develop and maintain incident response and recovery plans to restore services promptly.

Incident Reporting
DSPs must notify the relevant authority when an incident occurs that has a substantial impact on the provision of their services within the UK:

  • Notification Duty: Report incidents without undue delay to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
  • Content of Notification: Provide sufficient information to enable the ICO to determine the significance of the incident, including the nature of the incident, its impact, and any remedial actions taken.
  • Collaboration: Cooperate with the ICO and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) as necessary during investigations and incident management.

Appointment of a UK Representative Under the UK NIS regulations, organizations that operate in the UK but do not have their head office located within the UK are required to appoint a UK NIS representative to ensure compliance with the regulations. This representative is responsible for:

  • Liaison Role: Serving as the point of contact for the ICO and other relevant UK authorities.
  • Compliance Assurance: Ensuring the DSP meets all obligations under the UK NIS Regulations.
  • Availability: Being accessible to the UK authorities for any inquiries or enforcement actions.

Where does our company have to appoint a NIS representative?

Which NIS law do I have to comply with?

If your company is a Digital Service Provider (DSP) and exceeds the relevant thresholds, the applicable law under the UK Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018 depends on where your company is established and where you offer your services:

  • If your company has its head office in the UK: You are governed by the UK NIS Regulations 2018.
  • If your company does not have its head office in the UK but offers services there: You are governed by the UK NIS Regulations 2018 and you must appoint a representative in the UK who will act on your behalf under UK jurisdiction.

In both cases, your company must comply with the UK NIS Regulations, implementing appropriate security measures and fulfilling all reporting obligations.

Does our company need a UK representative?

If your company is a Digital Service Provider (DSP) without its head office in the United Kingdom but offers certain digital services within the UK, you are required to appoint a UK representative under the UK Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018.

According to the regulations:

  • Designation of a Representative: Companies without a head office in the UK but offering certain digital services in the UK must designate a representative based in the UK. This representative will act on your company’s behalf to ensure compliance with the UK NIS Regulations.
  • Impact of Brexit: Since Brexit, the European Union (EU) is now considered a "third country" from a UK perspective. As a result, if you are an EU-based company offering services in the UK but without a head office in the UK, you will need to appoint a UK representative.

Role of the Representative:

  • Acts on behalf of your company regarding compliance with the UK NIS Regulations.
  • Serves as the point of contact for relevant UK authorities.

By appointing a UK representative, your company ensures compliance with the UK NIS Regulations, contributing to the security and resilience of network and information systems within the United Kingdom.

What are the requirements for appointing a UK NIS representative?

If your company is a Digital Service Provider (DSP) without its head office in the United Kingdom but offers digital services within the UK, you are required under the UK Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018 to appoint a representative in the UK. The requirements for appointing a UK NIS representative include:

  • Confirmation in Writing: You must confirm the appointment of your UK representative in writing after completing the registration process with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
  • Representative's Compliance: Your representative must comply with UK law and act on your behalf in fulfilling your legal obligations under the UK NIS Regulations, including incident reporting.
  • Accessibility: The representative should be readily contactable by the ICO and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

When nominating your UK representative, you should provide the ICO with information about:

  • Your Company's Head Office: Whether you have a head office located outside the UK.
  • Other Representatives: Whether you have nominated a representative in another country.
  • Compliance with Other Legislation: Whether you are complying with equivalent network and information systems legislation in another country.
  • Location of Systems: Whether you are operating network and information systems located outside the UK.

By providing this information, you help the ICO understand your company's structure and ensure effective communication. Appointing a UK representative ensures that your company adheres to the UK NIS Regulations, contributing to the security and resilience of essential digital services within the United Kingdom.

Do companies that are based outside the EU and the UK need two representatives now?

If your company does not have an establishment within either the EU or the UK but is offering their services to individuals in both regions, you will have to appoint both an EU and a UK representative in order to comply with all relevant legislation, which consists of EU law and its implementation in the Member States on one hand, and UK law on the other hand. Please note that your EU representative must be established in one of the Member States your services are being offered to. Your UK representative must be established in the UK.

What are the possible consequences of non-compliance with the UK NIS Regulations?

Under the UK Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018, organizations that fail to comply with their obligations can face substantial penalties. Non-compliant companies may be fined up to £17 million. The exact amount depends on factors such as the severity of the breach, the extent of the negligence, and the potential impact on network and information system security. Failure to appoint a UK NIS representative when required is also a serious offense. Organisations that operate in the UK but do not have their head office located within the UK are required to appoint a UK NIS representative to ensure compliance with the regulations.

How can our company appoint Prighter as our representative?

What are the general requirements when appointing a UK NIS representative and what are the obligations of the representative?

When appointing a representative under the UK Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018, a Digital Service Provider (DSP) must explicitly designate the representative through a written mandate. This representative should be established in the United Kingdom and act as a local contact point, being readily accessible to relevant UK authorities like the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). The representative acts on behalf of the DSP regarding all legal obligations under the UK NIS Regulations, including incident reporting and liaising with authorities. They must comply with UK law and assist with any investigations or requests related to NIS compliance. By appointing a UK NIS representative, Digital Service Providers (DSPs) that do not have their head office in the UK ensure that they fulfil their legal obligations and contribute to the security and resilience of network and information systems within the United Kingdom.

How does Prighter comply with these requirements?

Prighter ensures compliance by offering an end-to-end digital onboarding process where a Power of Attorney is generated and can be signed either online or on paper. We provide dedicated communication channels with the relevant UK authorities, such as the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), acting on your behalf to fulfill all legal obligations under the UK Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018, including incident reporting and liaising with authorities.

China's Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) FAQ

Does our company need a PIPL Representative?

Is the PIPL applicable to my company?

The extra-territorial scope of the PIPL is very similar to the GDPR. According to Art. 3 PIPL, the Chinese data protection law applies to your company if you:

  • offer services or products to people inside the Chinese borders;
  • analyse and assess activities of people inside Chinese borders; and
  • do so under other circumstances provided in laws or administrative regulations. So far, no such additional laws or regulations have been published.

Does your company offer services or products according to Art. 3 §2 PIPL?

So far, there are no guidelines published by Chinese authorities on the question of when a company offers services or products in China. However, the wording is nearly identical to the wording of GDPR. Assuming that the purpose of regulating the extra-territorial scope of PIPL is similar to that of GDPR, and if it takes the same approach as GDPR does, it gives a first indication of what the offering means from the guideline on the territorial scope of the GDPR by the EDPB (Guideline 3/2018). However, it is expected that the Chinese authorities will publish their own guidelines, which, hopefully, will bring more clarity and certainty. Until then, factors that may be considered to result in an “offering of goods or services” to individuals in China could be:

  • using languages used in China and offering payments in Chinese Yuan;
  • using ads to address Chinese individuals or other marketing tools directed towards Chinese customers;
  • mentioning addresses or phone numbers to be reached from China;
  • using top-level Chinese domains;
  • offering delivery of goods to China.

Does your company analyse and assess the activities of individuals inside of China?

So far, there is no material from Chinese officials on the interpretation of the criteria “analyse and assess the activities of individuals”. However, the following activities are likely to trigger the applicability of Chinese PIPL:

  • behavioural advertisement
  • geo-localisation activities
  • online tracking by using cookies or other tracking technologies
  • market surveys and other behavioural studies based on individual profiles
  • CCTV

What fine may be imposed for non-compliance?

PIPL has hefty penalties in place for breaches of data protection laws. Penalties can reach up to RMB 50 million (€ 6.6 million) or 5% of the previous year's turnover. It is not yet clear whether the turnover is calculated based on the revenue from the Chinese market or the global business activities. Personal fines of up to RMB 1 million can also be imposed on 'directly responsible persons'. The data protection authorities can order other authorities to revoke administrative and business licences. It is to be expected that the Chinese authorities will take tough action here. For example, companies operating app stores were ordered to remove the app of Uber-competitor Didi Chuxing from their stores due to alleged data protection violations. When companies infringe the privacy rights of many individuals, prosecutors, statutorily designated consumer organisations, and organisations designated by the State for cybersecurity may file a lawsuit with the competent Chinese Court. This way, the State can take action against companies on behalf of affected individuals. Of course, it is also possible for individuals to file their own lawsuits for damages against a company.