Art. 39 GDPR · Chapter IV: Controller and processor · Section 4: Data protection officer
Article 39 GDPR: Tasks of the data protection officer
Text as of 28 October 2026 Reviewed by Sergio Maldonado Elvira on 29 October 2026
Summary (not the official text)
The data protection officer's tasks include at least informing and advising the controller, the processor and employees, monitoring compliance, advising on data protection impact assessments, and cooperating and acting as the contact point with the supervisory authority.
Official text
The data protection officer shall have at least the following tasks:
to inform and advise the controller or the processor and the employees who carry out processing of their obligations pursuant to this Regulation and to other Union or Member State data protection provisions;
to monitor compliance with this Regulation, with other Union or Member State data protection provisions and with the policies of the controller or processor in relation to the protection of personal data, including the assignment of responsibilities, awareness-raising and training of staff involved in processing operations, and the related audits;
to provide advice where requested as regards the data protection impact assessment and monitor its performance pursuant to Article 35;
to cooperate with the supervisory authority;
to act as the contact point for the supervisory authority on issues relating to processing, including the prior consultation referred to in Article 36, and to consult, where appropriate, with regard to any other matter.
The data protection officer shall in the performance of his or her tasks have due regard to the risk associated with processing operations, taking into account the nature, scope, context and purposes of processing.
Source: Regulation (EU) 2016/679, Official Journal L 119, 4.5.2016, as corrected. Only the text published in the Official Journal is authentic. © European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu
Text as of 28 October 2026.
This is reference material, not legal advice.
Related recitals
This list is under review.
EDPB guidance
- Guidelines on Data Protection Officers ('DPO')
WP243 rev.01FinalEndorsed by the EDPB 25 May 2018