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Bavarian Data Watchdog Probes Munich Father Over Photos of School-Run Illegal Parking

The case tests how far privacy rules restrict citizen reporting of traffic violations.

Overview

  • The Bavarian data protection authority sent the man a four-page letter demanding detailed explanations of how he handles others’ personal data when filing parking reports via the Weg.li app.
  • The letter tells him to ensure encrypted transmission, keep his smartphone updated, and enable photographed vehicle owners to access their data or object to processing.
  • The inquiry was triggered by a complaint from a driver he photographed, a risk heightened by Munich’s practice of naming reporting citizens as witnesses.
  • Environmental group Deutsche Umwelthilfe denounced the action as an intimidation attempt and pledged legal support, arguing the requirements would discourage civic enforcement.
  • The authority says the procedure is ongoing with no final order and advises that deleting images after submitting a report can help avoid data-protection problems.