OneTrust Certified Privacy Professional Practice Exam

TRUE OR FALSE: Employees must always report personal data breaches to their organization’s Data Protection Officer (DPO) under GDPR.

1. True

2. False

3. Sometimes

4. Only if there are more than five breaches

The correct answer is: True

The assertion that employees must always report personal data breaches to their organization’s Data Protection Officer (DPO) under GDPR is indeed true. Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), organizations are required to have protocols in place for reporting data breaches promptly. Employees play a crucial role in this process, as they are often the first line of defense in identifying potential breaches. The regulation stipulates that data breaches must be reported to the relevant supervisory authority within 72 hours if they pose a risk to individuals' rights and freedoms. To facilitate timely and effective reporting, it is essential that all employees understand their obligation to notify the DPO or relevant authorities within the organization whenever they become aware of a potential personal data breach. This reporting mechanism ensures that the organization can respond swiftly to mitigate any potential harm resulting from the breach, aligning with GDPR's core principles of accountability and transparency. In this context, other options would not align with GDPR's requirements. For example, the notion that reporting is only sometimes necessary undermines the urgency and necessity dictated by the regulation. Additionally, specifying a threshold of five breaches would contradict the principle that all breaches, regardless of number or severity, should be reported promptly to assess potential risks.