A Deputy Data Protection Officer (Deputy DPO) is a designated substitute who can support continuity when the Data Protection Officer (DPO) is unavailable or has to abstain from a matter. The role can help preserve clear responsibilities and separation of duties, but it does not automatically resolve conflicts of interest or transfer the DPO’s accountability.
In cybersecurity and privacy governance, a deputy may help keep oversight processes running while the DPO remains independent from operational decisions. For example, an organization can define when the deputy steps in, what authority they have, and how conflicts are identified and documented. Periodic reviews of these arrangements can help ensure the deputy’s own duties do not compromise impartial oversight. A deputy supports governance; they do not replace technical security controls or make the DPO responsible for operating them.