Tiny Irish data agency in the spotlight over Facebook case

Unlikely place: A cyclist pushing a bicycle outside the offices of the Irish Data Protection Commissioner (DPC), which is responsible for auditing and reviewing the privacy settings of dozens of tech companies that have their European headquarters in Ireland, including Facebook, Apple, Google and Microsoft.

PORTARLINGTON, Ireland: With an office above a grocery shop and a staff of just 50, Ireland’s data privacy authority makes an unlikely watchdog for hundreds of millions of European web users. 

The Irish Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) is responsible for auditing and reviewing the privacy settings of dozens of tech companies that have their European headquarters in Ireland, drawn by low taxes and a well-educated workforce.