What role do supervisory authorities play under the GDPR?

Supervisory authorities under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) play a crucial role in monitoring compliance with the regulation and enforcing its provisions across member states. These independent public authorities are established by each EU member state and are responsible for overseeing data protection practices, ensuring that individuals' rights are upheld in relation to their personal data.

The primary functions of supervisory authorities include investigating complaints, conducting audits, and issuing fines for non-compliance with the GDPR. They also provide guidance and advice to businesses and individuals regarding data protection issues. By actively monitoring how organizations process personal data and handle individuals' rights, supervisory authorities ensure that the principles of GDPR are effectively upheld and that data subjects have recourse if their rights are violated.

Alternatives such as implementing data protection legislation or creating data protection policies do not fall within the primary responsibilities of supervisory authorities. While they may contribute to frameworks that support these processes, their role is not to create legislation or policies. Similarly, training employees on data handling is typically the responsibility of organizations themselves rather than that of supervisory authorities, which focus more on oversight and enforcement.