Born in Bamberg on 29 March 1968, married, five children, Computer scientist.

Member of the German Bundestag since September 2000, won a directly-elected seat in the Bonn constituency in 2002, 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017.

2005-2013: Deputy chairman of the parliamentary group of the SPD in the Bundestag, responsible for the areas of the environment, nature conservation, nuclear safety, food, agriculture, consumer protection, sustainability.

2013-2018: Parlamentary State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection.

2019: Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information.