The Hellenic Data Protection Authority has communicated about the significant increase in its workload due to the rise in complaints and has issued recommendations for their submission.

The authority recorded 2,611 complaints during the first eight months of 2026, an increase of 113% compared to the same period in 2025 (1,227 complaints) and 199% compared to 2022. This situation, worsened by the growing complexity of cases and limited staff, leads to prolonged processing times, which can reach several months. The authority also notes an increased use of artificial intelligence for drafting complaints, which can complicate their assessment due to lengthy content, inaccurate information, or irrelevant legal arguments. Faced with this workload, the authority prioritizes cases based on their importance and general interest. An improvement in processing times is not expected before at least one year, after the completion of additional staff recruitment whose positions were approved in 2025.

To optimize case processing, the authority recommends that citizens first exercise their rights directly with the data controller, contact the Data Protection Officer (DPO) if applicable, or consider an amicable resolution. Before filing a complaint, it is advised to use the "Digital Assistant for Exercising Rights" and the "Digital Assistant for Filing a Complaint" available on the authority's website. When submitting, complainants should describe the facts clearly and concisely, limit themselves to data protection issues, and only attach essential documents, without the need to provide a legal analysis. The authority warns against entering personal data into artificial intelligence tools and stresses the need to verify the accuracy of the generated information.