New in Bremerhaven: Web push notifications now data protection compliant!

New in Bremerhaven: Web push notifications now data protection compliant!

Something is happening in Bremerhaven, and not just in the port facilities! The city announced today that dilapidated construction fences are now securing a closed area in the northeast quay. This is a necessary step to ensure the safety of visitors and residents. The hoardings are long past their prime, and so work continues in the background to improve these much-needed security measures. But that's not the only topic currently making the rounds.

Another exciting topic is the new web push notification service from Bremerhaven.de. The service is particularly designed to bring selected news directly to users' devices. Data protection is not left behind: According to Bremerhaven.de, no personal data is stored. Only the selection of subscribed messages is recorded locally on the user's device. It is therefore not possible to identify the person, which should be a reassuring feeling for many users. This is also confirmed by CleverPush, which states that such services should meet the highest data protection standards.

Safety and Consent

The use of this modern notification function requires the user's consent. According to the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), users must also have the opportunity to revoke their consent at any time. Anyone who chooses this service could be invited with questions such as: “Would you like to be informed about news and exclusive offers?” This is a voluntary and priority decision that gives users more control over their information. Users should ensure that they are informed about important aspects, such as the right to object to data processing, which is also anchored in the data protection declaration.

The new push notifications offer several advantages because they do not require any personal data to be sent. Instead, a pseudonymous subscriber ID is used, which optimally meets data protection requirements. Notifications are usually accessible on most devices - although in some cases the browser must be open in the background to receive notifications. However, if a user goes 14 days without visiting Bremerhaven.de, the receipt of push notifications will be automatically deactivated.

A look at the challenges

As positive as the innovations are, there are also some challenges to consider. There is a risk that third parties will be involved, particularly from the USA, where the same level of data protection may not apply. This is an important point that every user should keep in mind. CleverPush, a leader in this area, has developed a digital data processing agreement (ADV) that can be easily downloaded. This contract ensures that the processed user data remains within a legally secure framework.

Bremerhaven sees the abundance of these new regulations and options as a real opportunity to not only provide users with up-to-date information, but also to ensure that their data is handled securely and transparently. It turns out that modern everyday life in Seestadt is enriched with digital notifications, without neglecting the important data protection aspects. Cheers to digitalization, which could bring us even closer together in the future!