The focus: Can you be considered personal data?

The focus: Can you be considered personal data?

Weinheim, a city in the picturesque Baden-Württemberg, recently made its story accessible in an innovative way: With QR code, interested parties can now learn more about the historical sites and events of the city. This digital form of historical mediation is part of a project that gives citizens and visitors interactive access to the past of Weinheim. The city administration has attached the QR codes to important points so that passers-by can access information directly with their smartphones. This enables an appealing and modern examination of city history.

In addition to historical information, the platform also offers multimedia content that makes learning about the past an impressive experience. Thanks to this digital innovation, Weinheim is not only more attractive for those interested in history, but also for younger generations by being addressed in a medium with which they are familiar with.

interactive historical experiences

The QR codes not only show texts, but also pictures and videos that put important events and personalities of the city in the light. This promotes not only the knowledge of local history, but also a stronger feeling of identity within the community. Historical milestones, such as the founding of the city and significant events of the past centuries, are conveyed clearly and understandably.

The technology behind the project corresponds to the modern requirements for data protection and data security. Users do not have to worry that personal data is collected when accessing content. This is in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which regulates the handling of personal data, and the telecommunications telemedia data protection law (TTDSG), which has been in force since December 1, 2021. Among other things, this law regulates the storage and access to cookies and ensures that companies can only access their data with the consent of the users, whereby there are exceptions for technically necessary cookies, such as dr-d-gvo.de

old and new data protection measures

The problem of data protection has a long history that goes back to antiquity. Already in ancient Greece, a principle of protecting information was formulated via Hippocratic oath. However, the development of modern data protection laws only recorded in the 19th and 20th centuries with pioneering articles and laws. The article by Louis Brandeis and Samuel Warren in 1890, which shaped the concept of "right to privacy", was particularly striking. This represents public recognition of the importance of the protection of personal data.

The first data protection legislation was created in 1970 in Hesse, which soon received international attention. The Federal Constitutional Court established the "right to informational self -determination" in 1983. This historical judgment set the course for comprehensive data protection in Germany and beyond, which ultimately led to the introduction of the GDPR in May 2018.

Current provisions on data protection, in particular with regard to cookies, confirm the ongoing efforts to protect privacy. Companies could be occupied with fines if unauthorized cookies are used, which underlines the meaning and serious of data protection guidelines, as explained on dr--gvo.de

Overall, the Weinheimer QR code project impressively shows what history communication can look like and Guttut in times when data protection is becoming increasingly demanding. With this approach, the city has taken an important step in the direction of modern and respectful use of historical and personal data integration, while at the same time culture and history remains alive.