Betroffener

Betroffener is a German noun meaning “the person affected” or “the person concerned.” It refers to an individual whose rights, interests, or well-being are influenced by a decision, event, or circumstance. The masculine singular form is Betroffener, the feminine singular is Betroffene, and the plural is Die Betroffenen. In contemporary usage, many texts also prefer the gender-neutral phrase die betroffene Person or die betroffenen Personen.

The term is commonly used in legal, administrative, and policy contexts to identify individuals who are entitled to consideration, information, or protection because they are affected by a measure or incident. In data protection, for example, Betroffene corresponds to what is often translated as the “data subject,” i.e., a natural person whose personal data are processed. Example usages include statements like Der Betroffene hat das Recht auf Auskunft (The affected person has the right to information) or Die betroffenen Personen wurden benachrichtigt.

Etymology and style: Betroffener derives from the verb betreffen (to concern or affect) with the agent suffix -er. The term is standard in formal German, though some contexts prefer longer phrases such as die betroffene Person or die betroffenen Personen for clarity and gender neutrality. It is distinct from terms like Beschuldigter (the accused) or Geschädigter (the injured party), which denote different roles in a proceeding.

See also: Datenschutz, Betroffene Person, Recht auf information.