The EU institutions and bodies sometimes process citizens' personal information - in electronic, written or visual format - in the course of their duties. Processing includes collecting, recording, storing, retrieving, sending, blocking or erasing data. It is the task of the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) to uphold the strict privacy rules governing these activities.

Based in Brussels, the EDPS was established in 2004 and currently employs around 60 staff members, divided into five units and sectors. In addition to statutory staff, there are programmes for temporary national experts and trainees.