City voices concerns over controversial smoke detectors supplied by Vonovia
In the city of Braunschweig, a dispute has arisen over the use of new devices installed by housing provider Vonovia. The devices, known as "Multisensor Plus", are designed to measure smoke, temperature, humidity, and carbon monoxide. However, the city administration has raised concerns about data protection and privacy.
According to the city administration, they do not have information on whether the devices measure temperature, humidity, and carbon monoxide, or whether they can record and store data without explicit consent. This concern was echoed by tenant associations and data protection advocates, who argue that such devices could potentially invade tenants' privacy.
Vonovia, on the other hand, argues that data transmission only occurs with explicit tenant consent, and that devices are typically delivered with climate data transmission deactivated. According to their website, only climate data is stored and transmitted when tenant consent is obtained. However, it is not specified on Vonovia's website if the devices can record and store data without explicit consent.
The city administration has expressed concern that these devices could be used for surveillance, with Councilwoman Gisela Ohnesorge (Die Linke) stating that tenants feared as much. The tenants' alliance in Braunschweig protested against the installation of these new smoke detectors by Vonovia in March, with the central concern being the anticipated increased costs and data protection.
The city administration considers it essential that data from which conclusions about apartment usage can be drawn is only collected and shared with the explicit consent of tenants. They believe that regulatory oversight, clear contractual agreements, and resident information about data rights are key measures to assure data security and privacy compliance.
The city administration has submitted a query about this issue to the group Die FRAKTION. BS, and data protection was a central issue in the city council meeting held yesterday. Tenants who have doubts are advised to contact tenant associations or the state data protection officer.
In response to these concerns, Vonovia has stated that they are now installing devices with deactivated radio function. However, whether this fulfills all rental and data protection requirements remains unclear to the city administration. The dispute highlights the importance of clear communication and transparency when it comes to data collection and usage, especially in the context of smart home devices.
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