EU Privacy Chief Warns Criticism May Upend Irish Watchdog Role

Persistent criticism over the Irish Data Protection Commission’s handling of high profile investigations could threaten the country’s role as the European Union’s lead regulator of Big Tech, the watchdog’s chief has warned.

Helen Dixon, the Data Protection Commissioner, defended her office’s enforcement of the bloc’s strict data protection rules, or GDPR. Recent actions have included its investigation into Meta Platforms Inc., which resulted in a €210 million ($226 million) fine for Facebook as well as €180 million for Instagram.

But tensions have built in recent years over the amount of time the authority is taking to complete probes. ...