Habemus Papem! A new Federal Data Protection Commissioner has been appointed. This is the topic of discussion from minute (01:55) onwards.
Dr Stefan Brink and Prof Niko Härting then discuss the Federal Administrative Court’s ruling of 4 June 2026, 10 A 2.25, from minute (07:49) onwards. A journalist and historian sought access to the BND’s files on the arrest of the Nazi criminal Adolf Eichmann in Argentina. The Federal Chancellery issued a declaration of non-disclosure, which has now been upheld by the court. Even after 65 years, the risk to cooperation with other intelligence services and data protection concerns would prevent the files from being disclosed in full.
From minute 19:16 onwards, the discussion centres on a ruling by the European Court of Justice of 3 June 2026 in Case T-1078/23. In 2023, the European Commission designated Meta as a ‘gatekeeper’ within the meaning of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) for its Messenger service and Marketplace. Was Meta able to successfully challenge the Commission’s decision before the General Court?