EU frameworkGDPRNIS 2DORAAI ActWhistleblowing
Recital 84

Recital 84

Directive on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law · UE 2019/1937

(84)

The procedures provided for in this Directive and related to follow-up on reports of breaches of Union law in the areas falling within its scope serve an important objective of general public interest of the Union and of the Member States, within the meaning of point (e) of Article 23(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679, as they aim to enhance the enforcement of Union law and policies in specific areas where breaches can cause serious harm to the public interest. The effective protection of the confidentiality of the identity of reporting persons is necessary for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others, in particular those of the reporting persons, provided for under point (i) of Article 23(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679. Member States should ensure that this Directive is effective, including, where necessary, by restricting, by legislative measures, the exercise of certain data protection rights of persons concerned in line with points (e) and (i) of Article 23(1) and Article 23(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 to the extent, and as long as, necessary to prevent and address attempts to hinder reporting or to impede, frustrate or slow down follow-up, in particular investigations, or attempts to find out the identity of the reporting persons.

Luxembourg specificity
loi luxembourgeoise du 16 mai 2023 relative a la protection des lanceurs d'alerte

In Luxembourg, the law of 16 May 2023 on the protection of whistleblowers (articles 9 and 16) expressly enshrines the confidentiality of the whistleblower's identity as an absolute obligation, the breach of which is criminally sanctioned (fine of 1,250 to 25,000 EUR, doubled in case of repeat offence). The CNPD remains competent for article 23 GDPR arbitrations, and the OFRS for the whistleblowing dimension: both can be seized in parallel by the accused and by the whistleblower.

Luxgap practice: trace each GDPR right restriction in a dedicated register, with dual legal basis (article 23 GDPR + law of 16 May 2023), ready to be produced simultaneously before the CNPD and the OFRS.