Brave Files EU Complaints Over Underfunded Privacy Watchdogs
Privacy browser maker Brave accuses 27 EU Member States of failing to properly fund their data protection agencies, leaving them unable to police Big Tech. The company urges the European Commission to launch infringement proceedings against the offending governments.
Brave lodges official complaints with the European Commission against 27 EU Member States for failing to provide adequate resources to their national data protection watchdogs. The privacy-focused browser maker asks the EU's executive body to launch infringement procedures against these governments and potentially refer them to the European Court of Justice. Brave argues that under Article 52(4) of the GDPR, national governments are legally required to supply the human and financial resources necessary for these agencies to perform their duties.
A newly compiled report from Brave highlights a drastic shortage of tech expertise and budget across Europe's privacy agencies. The findings reveal that half of the EU's data protection authorities operate on a budget of less than €5 million, and only five of the 28 national enforcers employ more than ten tech specialists. Germany leads the bloc in technical capacity, holding nearly a third of all tech specialists across EU data agencies, while other countries fall far behind.
The lack of proper funding severely limits the ability of watchdogs to enforce the GDPR against major technology companies. Brave points to Ireland's data protection commission as a prime example, noting that its budget and headcount stagnate even as its caseload of cross-border complaints against tech giants explodes. Brave concludes that Europe's GDPR enforcers simply lack the capacity to investigate Big Tech, and places the blame squarely on national governments rather than the data protection authorities themselves.