Mobile phone movement data provide live traffic jam information for navigation systems or help traffic planners. Now they should also provide insights into whether corona measures are effective. However, users often have a say.
Berlin (dpa / tmn) - Are bans on contacts and closures effective means of overcoming the corona crisis? In order to answer this question, the state Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has already received anonymous cell phone movement data from Telekom.
In addition, the EU Commission has announced that it intends to use such mobile network data to analyze the effectiveness of curfews in the member states.
Use opt-out function
For example, the telecom data only allow conclusions to be drawn about how many telephones have been in which areas. Nevertheless, mobile phone customers can object if they do not agree that their data is even included in such evaluations.
For this purpose, Telekom offers an opt-out page in the network, on which your own mobile phone number must be specified. You will then receive a four-digit code via SMS to be entered on the page.
The opposition process for mobile customers in the O2 network works in a similar way. Its operator Telefónica also sells anonymised movement data for commercial purposes or passes it on to government agencies or research institutions. The network operator ensures that the data no longer contain any personal reference.
No objection to Vodafone possible
Vodafone, the third mobile network operator active in Germany, has not yet provided an option to object. However, there is no sale at Vodafone and, by default, no disclosure of such data. In the Corona crisis, however, the company wants to make an exception and, upon request, "support governments in developing insights based on large anonymized data sets."
Telekom opt-out side
Telefónica opt-out page
Vodafone customer information