The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has requested additional financing of €4 million to facilitate staff recruitment and manage possible implications of utilising artificial intelligence (AI) trained with personal data. The DPC is currently grappling with the challenge of recruiting staff who are adequately skilled, particularly in the legal and technology sectors, to contend with the private sector.
The DPC highlighted in a pre-budget proposal that its responsibilities were becoming increasingly complicated because of AI and other rapidly evolving technologies. Therefore, a growing demand for “proportional, effective, and swift enforcement” when dealing with major tech firms and other entities was highlighted.
In a letter dispatched to the Department of Justice in July, the DPC expressed its need for a budget of €32.4 million for 2025, comprised of an additional €2.8 million for salary costs and slightly over €1.2 million for non-salary expenditure. However, Budget 2025 eventually allocated just €29 million.
In their pre-budget suggestion, the quoted a rising expectancy from individuals, organisations, fellow regulators, legislatures, and EU governments wanting the DPC to regulate consistently and effectively in the swiftly changing digital landscape. The letter warned that AI was presenting current challenges since personal data was largely prevalent in the development, training, and deployment of AI applications.
While a new AI Act from the government was anticipated, the DPC expressed that managing the personal data aspect of the technology was presently its responsibility. Granting of the extra €4 million would allow the DPC to make strides in resolving past large-scale cross-border investigations.
In addition, they drew attention to a constantly growing caseload and perpetually changing technology, both of which pose major challenges for data protection. The DPC emphasised that extra finance would help build up technological expertise to match pace with rapidly developing technologies.
Extra resources would also be required to cope with the increased quantity of their decisions being contested in the Irish and European courts, which contain complex litigations set for the upcoming year.
Furthermore, additional funding is needed for staff training, contracting external recruitment services to assist in bringing new personnel on-board, and outfitting their new Dublin based headquarters.
Through a written letter, the DPC commended the government for their backing, crediting it for imposing fines worth €2.85 billion since 2018. The communication further highlighted their employee expansion plan, projecting a team increase to 260 by the end of the current year and 320 by the close of 2025.
The letter emphasised the evident and justified reasoning behind the DPC’s need for funding in light of their substantial obligations. This includes monitoring and ensuring the compliance of Ireland-based technology, global internet and social media firms with EU data protection regulations, which impacts hundreds of millions of Europeans. They expressed faith in the understanding of their case.