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For a long time, data protection was an issue that many people preferred to brush aside. Important, sure. But also dry, complicated, and somehow far removed from real life. That’s changing right now—and at a pretty rapid pace.
As reported by the Heise portal, the number of complaints filed with the data protection officer in Hesse rose to more than 6,000 in 2025. The previous year, the figure was just under 3,840. This number alone shows that something is changing. People are paying closer attention when it comes to their data. They no longer simply accept things at face value. And, surprisingly, a technology that many data protection advocates themselves tend to respect is playing a key role in this: artificial intelligence.
AI doesn't just explain—it inspires people to take action
These days, when people run into problems with incorrect data, unclear information, or strange decisions, they often don’t turn to a government agency first. They turn to a chatbot. It’s convenient, fast, and, above all, accessible. You ask a question in plain language and get an immediate answer that doesn’t sound like it came from a government office.
That’s exactly where the difference lies compared to the past. Many people simply didn’t know what to do. Now, a chatbot can tell you in just a few seconds which department is responsible. And sometimes it even helps you formulate the complaint directly. This way, a vague sense of unease suddenly turns into a concrete step.
State Data Protection Commissioner Alexander Roßnagel describes this very candidly. People are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence for advice and are told: “You can contact the data protection authority about this issue.” At first glance, that sounds trivial. But it isn’t. Because suddenly, the biggest hurdle is gone: just getting started.
More complaints aren't necessarily bad news
Of course, one could look at the high number and immediately sound the alarm. But one could also say: People are finally taking advantage of their rights. Data protection doesn’t thrive on rules that exist somewhere in the background. It thrives on citizens speaking up when something goes wrong.
In that sense, the increase is actually logical. Anyone who realizes that data can determine the outcome of contracts, loans, opportunities, and sometimes even everyday life is paying closer attention. This seems to be particularly evident when it comes to Schufa. According to the report, complaints there have even tripled. This is no coincidence. Court rulings, public debates, and digital tools are converging on an issue that directly affects many people.
The real problem isn't the chatbot
The real issue lies elsewhere. As more and more people take their rights seriously, the government must be prepared for this. That, however, does not seem to be the case. The number of complaints is rising, but staffing levels remain the same. In the long run, this is no minor matter, but a structural problem.
After all, what good is a sound legal basis if the agency can barely keep up? Then a legitimate interest quickly turns into a bottleneck. And a strong claim becomes a protracted process.
In the end, what remains is a rather uncomfortable impression: It’s not that AI is putting a strain on data protection. It’s simply revealing just how thinly stretched the system already was. To be honest, that’s almost the real story. As soon as citizens stop keeping quiet and start speaking out, it becomes clear just how inadequate protection often is in practice. That’s not progressive. It’s simply not enough.
Source: heise.de
