Court checks: Does the DB Navigator” rail app violate data protection?
Court checks: Does the DB Navigator” rail app violate data protection?
In the first civil process for data security of the popular “DB Navigator” rail app at the Frankfurt District Court, considerable doubts about the legality of some automatically installed cookies were expressed. This process, which began on May 19, 2025, is of particular importance because it could have far -reaching effects on the use and data protection of apps in public transport. The lawsuit comes from a private person who is known under the artist name "Padeluun" and critically questions the data protection practices of Deutsche Bahn as chairman of the digital courage association.
The plaintiff accuses the Deutsche Bahn to collect user information without the necessary consent of customers by using unselectable cookies. In particular, he criticizes the inadmissible data transfer to third-party providers such as Google and Adobe, which in his view also takes place with limited cookie settings. The railway, on the other hand, defends the construction of the app and emphasizes that the data usage corresponds to the statutory family provisions and is necessary for the stability and error minimizing the application.
judicial review of data protection practices
The judges at the district court expressed persistent concerns about certain tracking technologies, especially the cookies of Adobe Analytics and Optimizely. These are to be used for the simultaneous access count and software tests, while the Cookie of Crashlytics serves according to the court to avoid the app during ticket control. The debate about the justification of these technologies is further deepened by the planned hearings of IT specialists and an independent expert.
The procedure has so far been in the first instance and a final judgment is still pending. In order to better assess data processing, the court plans to analyze the app's booking process and check the cookies installed on end devices. The plaintiff hopes not only for his own cause through the outcome of the procedure, but also for a broader public.
technical backgrounds and effects
The "DB Navigator" app has now reached almost 80 million downloads and offers information on connections, prices and ticket purchases. Despite its popularity, the Digitalcourage Association criticizes the pressure on travelers to use this app, while alternative information channels are missing. The concerns extend to technical analyzes that prove data such as departure and destination and destiny people.
The technical regulations in relation to, cookies, especially those in the Telecommunications Digital Dienste Data Protection Act (TDDDG), make it clear that operators need a clear legal basis for tracking measures. The consent is often requested by the users, which is made more difficult by complex cookie banners. This practice is often criticized, since numerous websites and apps do not obtain effective consent and process personal data without explicit consent, which could endanger user rights.
In summary, it can be said that the lawsuit against Deutsche Bahn and the ongoing court hearings raise central questions about data protection and the use of tracking technologies in digital space. How this case will develop could not only be of great importance for the train, but also for other digital offers in the public service. Further negotiation dates are already scheduled to obtain the specialist opinions of the IT specialists and clarify the legal framework.Ostsee Zeitung reports href = "https://www.ingenieur.de/technik/datenschuetzer-vsbahn-stahn-stahr-die-db-navigator-app-vor-gericht/"> Ingenieur.de informed , Data protection " explained .
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| Ort | Frankfurt, Deutschland |
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