Prior consultation request

Prior consultation refers to where a controller needs to consult the competent data protection authority before beginning to process personal data.

A prior consultation (premilinary hearing) is required whenever an impact assessment shows that the envisaged processing would result in a high risk to data subjects and the controller has been unable to introduce measures to lower the risk. A prior consultation cannot take place until the controller has carried out a data protection impact assessment.

The competent data protection authority must be consulted, for example, if data subjects could face significant or irreversible consequences that they may not be able to overcome.

Moreover, controllers must always consult the competent data protection authority in situations where national laws obligate them to consult with, and/or obtain prior authorisation from, the competent data protection authority.

Sending a preliminary hearing request to the Data Protection Ombudsman

The form for Preliminary Hearing Request for the Data Protection Ombudsman is available in the Turvalomake secure form service of the Government ICT Centre Valtori.

The form is filled in and sent securely to the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman. When the declaration you have sent has been received at the registry of the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman, you will receive a message from the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman. The submitted form can be saved as a PDF file after it has been sent.

Our data protection policy: Electronic services at the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman