Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider, Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI) /picture Alliance, photothek.de, Kira Hofmann
Berlin – Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider, who was today appointed by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier as the new Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI) was appointed.
“During my term of office, I will focus particularly on the areas of healthcare, artificial intelligence and security,” Specht-Riemenschneider announced. Unfortunately, especially in the healthcare sector, data protection and digitalization or data use are often at odds – digital solutions are crucial for better healthcare.
She said she wanted to advocate data protection that clearly shows the red lines, but offers constructive solutions below those red lines. Specht-Riemenschneider spoke of a “corridor of the possible”. To enable digitalization that is sensitive to fundamental rights, she intends to enter into dialogue with society, legislators, research and companies even earlier and more intensively. Where there is a problem, she offers a “new start”.
Especially when it comes to digitalization in healthcare, it is “extremely important to think about data protection from the outset”, since particularly sensitive personal data is processed, which also offers particular potential for attacks. The fundamental rights of those affected must be comprehensively protected, but at the same time a high level of functionality of the systems must not be impeded.
Specht-Riemenschneider cited the electronic patient record (ePA) as an example. The success of the digital file depends crucially on a successful balance between a high level of data protection and good functionality – this is the only way that patients and doctors can be taken along in the long term. If the greatest possible acceptance is to be achieved, there should be no doubt about data protection.
Regarding her first experiences working with colleagues from the state data protection authorities, Specht-Riemenschneider said that at last weekend’s summer retreat in Speyer she noticed a “very constructive working atmosphere”.
In this context, he stressed that data protection authorities could work together much more effectively if the policy of the data protection conference (DSK), the body of independent German data protection supervisory authorities at the federal and state levels, would legally allow binding decisions by majority vote. In addition, a DSK office could further strengthen the capacity for action. © aha/aerzteblatt.de