Münster celebrates summer's end: the city is thrilled by the positive results!

Münster celebrates summer's end: the city is thrilled by the positive results!

There was some good news to report in the lively city of Münster recently: after this year's summer festival, the city is drawing a consistently positive balance. The event, which attracted numerous local companies, visitors and tourists, boasted a high number of participants and a colorful program. Particularly noteworthy was the variety of offerings, which ranged from culinary delicacies to entertaining live acts. Those responsible agree: a good knack for organization and a varied program have contributed significantly to the success. The event not only became a social highlight for many citizens, but also a platform for local businesses that could present themselves and make their products and services better known.

The new data protection law, which has been in force since December 1, 2021 and draws attention to digital services, has also received positive attention. The TDDDG, which was originally known as TTDSG, supplements the GDPR and regulates access to data from end devices, in particular with regard to the use of cookies. This measure has far-reaching consequences for many companies. The law has established clear rules that determine that storage and access to information is only permitted with the express consent of the user. This has significantly changed the legal framework for website operators.

New rules for cookies and data protection

The TDDDG not only regulates access to end devices, but also expands the existing regulations on cookies. Cookies that are not technically necessary may only be set with the consent of the user. The differences between necessary and non-essential cookies are highlighted, with the Federal Court of Justice setting clear standards in its “cookie ruling”. The boundaries between the requirements of the old Telemedia Act (TMG) and the new structure are therefore fluid and require a new understanding on the part of the operators.

• Technisch notwendige Cookies: dürfen ohne Einwilligung verwendet werden.
• Einwilligungsbedürftige Cookies: setzen eine klare Zustimmung des Nutzers voraus.

In particular, the design of the cookie banners must be clear and understandable so that users are informed about the purpose of the processing. Secret tricks such as “nudging” or “dark patterns” are not permitted; every user must have the opportunity to make informed decisions. If operators violate these requirements, they face high fines - in the worst case, up to 300,000 euros can be due.

In order to meet the requirements of the TDDDG, many companies need to revise their websites and ensure that all regulations are properly complied with. A first conviction of a weather service for an illegal cookie banner has already shown how seriously the supervisory authorities take these regulations. Companies should therefore carefully check the circumstances in order to avoid legal stumbling blocks.

The combination of a successful event in Münster and the new data protection regulations could not only stimulate the local economy, but at the same time strengthen citizens' trust in digital services. This shows that data protection and a thriving cultural scene can go hand in hand. A look into the future of the digital landscape could prove to be very promising. Those interested can find further details about Sommersend and the developments in digital regulation on allesmuenster as well as on dr-datenschutz and dr-dsgvo.