It is indispensable for rail passengers: the DB Navigator app. But now a data protection association is accusing Deutsche Bahn of violating applicable data protection guidelines with the app - and has announced a lawsuit.

Every day, millions of rail travelers use the DB Navigator app from Deutsche Bahn to buy their train ticket or find out about delayed trains. The problem is that they disclose more personal data than necessary. At least that's how the data protection association Digitalcourage sees it. It criticizes the app for spying on rail passengers and passing on their personal data without permission. Whether the accusations are justified is now to be determined in a lawsuit.

Does the DB Navigator have a data protection problem?

In many cases, the DB Navigator app requires you to enter personal data. For example, to purchase a train ticket. Travelers have to specify how many people are travelling with them, whether there are children and when the arrival or departure is to take place. It is understandable that this data is forwarded to Deutsche Bahn. But the fact that the name of the mobile phone user and statistics on app usage are also transmitted is considered worthy of criticism by data protectionists. DB Navigator is full of trackers, says Digitalcourage. Specifically, the association refers to around a dozen tracking tools - such as marketing solutions from providers Adobe and Adform, which are hidden in DB Navigator.

Accusations are not new

Stiftung Warentest takes a similar view. Although the transfer of personal data is necessary when using the app, this is regularly done without the user's consent. Furthermore, Stiftung Warentest criticizes the transfer of personal data to Adform. Even with the selection "Only necessary cookies", this could not be avoided. Deutsche Bahn refutes the allegations. In a press release, it states that the forwarding would only serve to "guarantee the functions and stability of the app". In addition, the data would only be passed on in pseudonymous form and would not be used for marketing purposes.

Digitalcourage announces lawsuit

In April 2022, Digitalcourage gave Deutsche Bahn an ultimatum. It was to rectify the defects by July 1, 2022 - otherwise legal action would be taken. This deadline has now passed. Deutsche Bahn has already announced that it does not intend to revise the DB Navigator app. Digitalcourage reacted and announced a lawsuit. A court will decide whether the DB Navigator app actually has a data protection problem.