On April 27, 2017, the German Federal Parliament voted to approve the new proposed German Federal Data Protection Act (“new FDPA”). The law would adapt the current German data protection law to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The federal chamber of the states, the German Federal Council, is expected to approved the new FDPA in the next month, without major changes.  Once approved by the Federal Council, the new FDPA will become effective on May 25, 2018, the same date as the GDPR.

The new FDPA seeks to enhance privacy protections in areas where the GDPR allows EU Member States to deviate from the Regulation.