Article 57: Tasks - GDPR

1. Without prejudice to other tasks set out under this Regulation, each supervisory authority shall on its territory:

(a) monitor and enforce the application of this Regulation;
(b) promote public awareness and understanding of the risks, rules, safeguards and rights in relation to processing. Activities addressed specifically to children shall receive specific attention;
(c) advise, in accordance with Member State law, the national parliament, the government, and other institutions and bodies on legislative and administrative measures relating to the protection of natural persons' rights and freedoms with regard to processing;
(d) promote the awareness of controllers and processors of their obligations under this Regulation;
(e) upon request, provide information to any data subject concerning the exercise of their rights under this Regulation and, if appropriate, cooperate with the supervisory authorities in other Member States to that end;
(f) handle complaints lodged by a data subject, or by a body, organisation or association in accordance with Article 80, and investigate, to the extent appropriate, the subject matter of the complaint and inform the complainant of the progress and the outcome of the investigation within a reasonable period, in particular if further investigation or coordination with another supervisory authority is necessary;
(g) cooperate with, including sharing information and provide mutual assistance to, other supervisory authorities with a view to ensuring the consistency of application and enforcement of this Regulation;
(h) conduct investigations on the application of this Regulation, including on the basis of information received from another supervisory authority or other public authority;
(i) monitor relevant developments, insofar as they have an impact on the protection of personal data, in particular the development of information and communication technologies and commercial practices;
(j) adopt standard contractual clauses referred to in Article 46(2)(d) and in point (d) of Article 28(8);
(k) establish and maintain a list in relation to the requirement for data protection impact assessment pursuant to Article 35(4);
(l) give advice on the processing operations referred to in Article 36(2);
(m) encourage the drawing up of codes of conduct pursuant to Article 40(1) and provide an opinion and approve such codes of conduct which provide sufficient safeguards, pursuant to Article 40(5);
(n) encourage the establishment of data protection certification mechanisms and of data protection seals and marks pursuant to Article 42(1), and approve the criteria of certification pursuant to Article 42(5);
(o) where applicable, carry out a periodic review of certifications issued in accordance with Article 42(7);
(p) draft and publish the requirements for accreditation of a body for monitoring codes of conduct pursuant to Article 41 and of a certification body pursuant to Article 43;
(q) conduct the accreditation of a body for monitoring codes of conduct pursuant to Article 41 and of a certification body pursuant to Article 43;
(r) authorise contractual clauses and provisions referred to in Article 46(3);
(s) approve binding corporate rules pursuant to Article 47;
(t) contribute to the activities of the Board;
(u) keep internal records of infringements of this Regulation and of measures taken in accordance with Article 58(2); and
(v) fulfil any other tasks related to the protection of personal data.

2. Each supervisory authority shall facilitate the submission of complaints referred to in point (f) of paragraph 1 by measures such as a complaint submission form which can also be completed electronically, without excluding other means of communication.

3. The performance of the tasks of each supervisory authority shall be free of charge for the data subject and, where applicable, for the data protection officer.

4. Where requests are manifestly unfounded or excessive, in particular because of their repetitive character, the supervisory authority may charge a reasonable fee based on administrative costs, or refuse to act on the request. The supervisory authority shall bear the burden of demonstrating the manifestly unfounded or excessive character of the request.

Understanding This Article

Article 57 is the comprehensive task list for supervisory authorities, defining their broad mandate beyond pure enforcement. While Article 58 gives them powers (the tools they can use), Article 57 defines their tasks (what they're supposed to do). These tasks fall into several categories: enforcement, guidance and awareness, complaint handling, cooperation, regulatory approval functions, and monitoring.

Enforcement tasks (points a, h, u) include monitoring GDPR compliance, conducting investigations, and keeping records of violations. Authorities don't just wait for complaints—they proactively investigate processing operations, conduct audits, and monitor sectors for compliance issues.

Guidance and awareness tasks (points b, c, d, e, i) recognize that effective data protection requires education as much as enforcement. Authorities must promote public awareness (especially for children), advise governments on legislation, educate controllers and processors, provide information to data subjects, and monitor technological developments that impact privacy. Many authorities publish guidance documents, hold conferences, maintain websites with FAQs, and engage in public outreach.

Complaint handling (point f) is a core function. Authorities must handle data subject complaints, investigate them appropriately, and inform complainants of progress. This makes data protection rights practically accessible—individuals can turn to authorities when companies violate their rights.

Regulatory approval tasks (points j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s) include approving standard contractual clauses, certifications, codes of conduct, binding corporate rules, and accrediting certification bodies. These approval functions enable organizations to demonstrate compliance through recognized mechanisms.

Paragraph 3's free-of-charge requirement ensures data protection rights are accessible regardless of financial means. Individuals shouldn't need to pay to exercise their fundamental rights. Paragraph 4's exception for manifestly unfounded or excessive requests prevents abuse while placing the burden of proof on the authority.

Key Points

Monitor and enforce GDPR application within their territory

Promote public awareness and educate controllers/processors

Handle data subject complaints and conduct investigations

Cooperate with other supervisory authorities for consistent enforcement

Approve codes of conduct, certifications, and binding corporate rules

Services free of charge for data subjects and DPOs

22 specific tasks covering enforcement, guidance, and regulatory functions

Understanding This Article

Key Points

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