Parkster app closes underground car parks in Kirchheim – what now for users?

Parkster app closes underground car parks in Kirchheim – what now for users?

In Kirchheim unter Teck, use of the popular Parkster app in local underground car parks will be discontinued. This decision affects all users of the app, which allowed them to manage their parking ticket via smartphone. The city administration decided to take this step due to data protection concerns and inconsistencies with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). According to reports from ntz.de The app has long been a practical tool for drivers who often park in the city's underground car parks.

The decision to move away from the app comes in a context of growing awareness of personal data protection. The GDPR, which applies to the handling of such data in the EU, places high demands on companies and public bodies that handle personal information. According to information from dr-datenschutz.de In particular, personal data such as names, telephone numbers and location data must be particularly protected.

Privacy concerns and app usage

The central question that arose when using the Parkster app was whether the data collected met the strict conditions of the GDPR. Personal data relating to identifiable natural persons are also subject to the special protection of this regulation. It has not been conclusively clarified whether information about the app's users was personal or anonymized. The app represented a risk for the city government that it no longer wanted to take.

In Germany, a broad interpretation of the term “personal data” is applied, which can also include less obvious information such as working time records or exam answers, provided identification is possible. The city therefore wants to ensure that all data processing processes comply with the requirements of the GDPR and that there are no legal consequences.

Impact on users

For users, the shutdown of the app means that they will have to resort to alternative payment methods to purchase their parking tickets. It is currently not clear which solutions will be made available in the future. However, the city administration emphasizes that the protection of users is the top priority and that they will consider appropriate measures.

The decision in Kirchheim unter Teck could serve as an example for other cities that use similar technologies and also have to deal with the issue of data protection. The increasing digitalization of urban services also brings new challenges, particularly with regard to the protection of personal data in accordance with the GDPR.