Data protection laws in Germany

Anyone know off-hand whether city services such as the library are required to inform you and receive your permission before storing your data?

The local library is now offering WLAN ... I thought the woman wanted my passport just to check ID.

Nope, they've decided to use national ID (or passport) numbers as the log-in. (Why not library card number?) Maybe Europeans are accustomed to using their ID-numbers for everything, but that seems a bit odd to me.

Was not pleased that she saved my passport number without my permission. I asked her to erase it (yeah right) and requested a copy of the Nutzerbedingungen; she went to some back office and got one. I thanked her and was putting it in my bag ... when she demanded it back! So it's apparently not standard practice to inform patrons of the rules etc. before they enrol.

I presume that city offices have some special freedom in use and storage of data.

Another cultural difference?
(Don't let me start on how the "Patriot Act" means my library records can be searched in the name of national security.)

In Canada the Social Insurance Number is (ab)used for everything from applying for a job to filling out paperwork at daycare. It's everywhere. So are they watching what you're taking out of the library here too, just in case you happen to check out Bin Laden, World Hero Volume 8 along with a How-To Guide to Making Things Go Bang?

I really doubt my good buddy George has time to raffle through my library records, but really REALLY hate the fact that he could if he cared to do.

Goodness, they used our social security number as our University ID number at the University of Utah. Get over it.

DDBug, they did that too at OU (Oklahoma) until 2005 when they changed it to a random number precisely for reasons of data protection. I had a random number anyway because I do not have a SSN so it didn't really bother me but I can see how you may not want to hand the guy working at Wendy's at the food court an ID with your SSN on it.

Do you really think it has anything to do with time...

or more possibly a program written specifically for the purpose of trawling the data for relationships...

It is not whether they want to do it, these systems are already in use and have been for years.

I'm from Canada and that hasn't been my experience. You also have certain privacy rights and also a lot of things you are talking about when presented, are actually optional.

Guess my info is out of date cuz I left Canada in 1994, but before I left, the 9-digit SIN was mandatory for opening a bank account, filling out loan applications, credit card applications, job applications, school registration. You name it, they required it. Your SIN did not become your student number at university or your bank account number though. That would be awful.

Absolutely love the fact that people get really pissy about agencies storing any kind of personal details about them, but then happily post every last banal detail about their lives on Facebook for all and sundry to read. Great stuff.

Well, you don't know how much on Facebook is real 411.

I mean, I put my lingerie sizes on my blog, but for all you know, I'm a guy.

<< I presume that city offices have some special freedom in use and storage of data. >>

Not much. They have near enough the same obligations as others.

when i was in italy about 2 years ago the inet cafes had to get id because you are still liable for illegal downloads. i dont know if it was a european law or a italian.