In light of the increasing cooperation between the Commission for Personal Data Protection (CPDP) and the academic community, we are pleased to announce the organising of the first National Personal Data Protection Competition. The initiative is targeted at law students and aims to enhance the legal culture and practical skills in the personal data protection field by simulating a real administrative procedure before the data protection supervisory authority.
It is a priority not only to raise awareness on personal data protection, but also to prepare future professionals who will be able to apply their knowledge in practice.
As part of the competition, student teams will have to prepare a complaint or a defence position on a pre-defined case and present their arguments to an expert jury, which includes CPDP representatives of the CPDP, university professors and experts in the field. They will have to demonstrate in-depth regulatory knowledge, argumentation, reasoning and speaking skills.
Those who have expressed an interest in taking part in the initiative will be divided into teams representing the various higher education institutions, which will take on the roles of claimants and defendants in a pre-prepared case study. Each team will prepare a complaint or a defensive position and present their arguments in a simulated meeting of the Commission for Personal Data Protection. The jury will consist of CPDP representatives and university professors, experts in the personal data protection field, who will assess the knowledge of the legal framework, the argumentation, speaker skills and compliance with procedural rules.
Prizes: Ranked first, second and third will be awarded during an official ceremony at the CPDP premises on 28 May 2026. All participants will receive a certificate of attendance.
Eligible participants: law students. The teams can include up to 4 participants.
Selection board: the selection board will be composed of CPDP representatives and academics, personal data protection experts.
Stages of the essay student competition:
First stage: Application and registration of participants: each team should express their wish to take part in the competition in free format by 20 April 2026 by email to concours@cpdp.bg.
Second stage: Successful participants will be invited to participate in a remote training programme to prepare them for the upcoming tasks as part of the initiative by 24 April 2026.
Third stage: All teams will receive a case study where they will have the opportunity to present their work until 22 May 2026.
Fourth step: On 28 May 2026, a simulation of an actual administrative procedure in front of the CPDP members will be carried out, during which the teams will have the opportunity to defend their position before the selection board.
Marking:
The assessment will take into account the following factors:
- Regulatory analysis – to what extent participants know the applicable legislation (GDPR, the Bulgarian Personal Data Protection Act, etc.);
- Argumentation and logic – clarity and consistency in the defence of the position;
- Speaker skills and persuasiveness – how to present and communicate;
- Compliance with procedural rules in proceedings before the administrative authority – correct application of administrative procedures.
An official award ceremony will be held on 28 May 2026, with the top three teams ranking first, second and third. All participants will receive a certificate of attendance.
Persons to contact:
Hristo Alaminov, mobile + 359 2 915 35 34, halaminov@cpdp.bg
Ioan Angelov, mobile + 359 2 915 35 86, yoan.angelov@cpdp.bg
