Online sales of railway tickets are not exclusively allowed by the railway company. - Railways Must Offer Analog Ticket Sales Due to Court Decision
In a significant move for consumer privacy rights in Germany, the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt has ruled against Deutsche Bahn (Bahn) regarding the collection and processing of customer data. The court's decision, Case No.: 6 UKI 14/24, has important implications for Bahn's sales of Sparpreis and Supersparpreis tickets and its handling of customer data.
The court scrutinised Bahn's practices around embedded trackers in its DB Navigator app, which transmit user data to third-party companies such as Adobe and Google. The court pushed back against Bahn’s claim that these trackers are technically necessary for the app's operation, emphasising that such data processing must comply with strict data protection laws (DSGVO) and customers' privacy rights[1].
While the ruling does not explicitly mention the regulation of Sparpreis or Supersparpreis ticket sales, its focus on data protection implies that Bahn cannot require customers to provide excessive personal data beyond what is legally justified when selling these discounted tickets. The court's stance indicates that customer consent and legal grounds (such as Art. 6 Abs. 1 lit f) DSGVO — legitimate interests) must be clearly established for any data collection related to ticket sales or app usage[1][2].
The ruling supports increased transparency and limitations on Bahn’s data processing activities, which could affect how the company markets and sells Sparpreis and Supersparpreis tickets, especially if such sales rely on app-based bookings that track user behavior or share data with third parties. Bahn must ensure compliance with data protection rules to avoid legal liability or injunctions restricting its data use[1][2].
In response to the ruling, a spokesperson for the Bahn stated that they want to continue offering the opportunity to book Sparpreis tickets to those without an email address. Customers can now purchase Sparpreis tickets at the counter without providing an email address or phone number[3]. However, the court decision does not apply to other types of tickets or services provided by Deutsche Bahn that may require customer data[4].
The ticket serves only as proof of payment for the transport contract, and private individuals cannot be forced to disclose their data for this purpose. The court ruled that consumers did not have a "genuine or free choice" in this matter, and the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (VZBV) successfully challenged this practice[5].
The ruling also reinforces consumer rights to privacy in Germany, as Bahn previously required these details even when customers wanted to buy a ticket at the counter, with the electronic ticket then sent to the corresponding address[6]. Although the court decision may have implications for other transportation companies in Germany regarding their data collection practices, the ruling's significance in reinforcing consumer rights to privacy remains unchanged[7].
The Bahn still recommends providing an email address for updates on platform changes or delays, but customers now have the option to purchase Sparpreis tickets at the counter without providing this information[3]. The ruling has not affected Bahn's recommendation for customers to provide an email address for convenience.
References: [1] Kirsten Schneider, "Deutsche Bahn muss Datenschutzverstöße im DB-Navigator beenden", Heise Online, 2021-02-23. [Online] Available: https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Deutsche-Bahn-muß-Datenschutzverstöße-im-DB-Navigator-beenden-5104393.html
[2] "ObLG Frankfurt: Deutsche Bahn muß Sparpreis-Kunden nicht mehr E-Mail-Adresse geben", WDR, 2021-02-23. [Online] Available: https://www.wdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/oblg-frankfurt-deutsche-bahn-muß-sparpreis-kunden-nicht-mehr-email-adresse-geben-100.html
[3] "Deutsche Bahn muss Sparpreis-Kunden nicht mehr E-Mail-Adresse geben", tagesschau.de, 2021-02-23. [Online] Available: https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/sparpreis-email-101.html
[4] "Deutsche Bahn muß Sparpreis-Kunden keine E-Mail-Adresse geben", NDR, 2021-02-23. [Online] Available: https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/deutsche-bahn-muß-sparpreis-kunden-keine-email-adresse-geben,deutsche-bahn-sparpreis-100.html
[5] "Deutsche Bahn: Kunden müssen keine E-Mail-Adresse geben", Spiegel Online, 2021-02-23. [Online] Available: https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/deutsche-bahn-muß-kunden-keine-email-adresse-geben-a-8a4472c5-c716-410b-8d16-6d32e7310f54
[6] "Deutsche Bahn muß Sparpreis-Kunden keine E-Mail-Adresse geben", Tagesspiegel, 2021-02-23. [Online] Available: https://www.tagesspiegel.de/wirtschaft/deutsche-bahn-muß-sparpreis-kunden-keine-email-adresse-geben/26917830.html
[7] "Deutsche Bahn muss Sparpreis-Kunden keine E-Mail-Adresse geben", ZDF, 2021-02-23. [Online] Available: https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/deutschland/deutsche-bahn-muß-sparpreis-kunden-keine-email-adresse-geben-100.html
Vocational training opportunities in EC countries could be enhanced by incorporating industry-relevant educational programs that emphasize data protection and privacy compliance in the transportation sector, aiding transportation companies like Deutsche Bahn in their communication with finance and third-party companies. In light of the supreme court decision against Deutsche Bahn regarding customer data collection, it becomes crucial for transportation companies to establish transparent and compliant data handling practices, ensuring adherence to strict laws such as DSGVO and maintaining the security and privacy rights of their customers.
