Anyone entering Germany from an international corona risk area must register digitally in advance from this Sunday evening: The web application “Digital Entry Registration” (DEA) has now started operations. It replaces the disembarkation card in paper form that has already been distributed to air travelers.

Worldwide use Anyone who does not comply with his reporting obligation risks a fine. Exceptions apply to commuters and travelers in “small border traffic”. The federal police should randomly check whether the rules are being adhered to and whether users are not giving false information. Ultimately, you are dependent on the participation of the citizens, admitted Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU). According to Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU), the aim is to be able to better prevent “new sources of infection from arising when entering Germany”.

The DEA website, which will open on Sunday from 18: 00 clock can be reached by users of digital devices such as desktop computers, laptops, Tablets or smartphones are used worldwide, declared the Federal Ministries for the Interior and Health. The obligation to register is currently based on the travel and quarantine orders of the health department that came into force at the same time. In addition, the DEA is to be anchored in the planned 3rd Infection Protection Act in the near future in order to create more legal certainty.

Data on compliance with the quarantine obligation – also for criminal prosecutors The requirement for self-isolation is reduced with the new regulations from 14 to ten days. On the other hand, the quarantine can now be ended with a negative corona test at the earliest on the fifth day after entry, no longer directly within the first three days.

With the DEA, according to the leading ministries, the health authorities responsible for the destination of the travelers receive “the information they need to be able to check whether the quarantine obligation under state law is being complied with”. Enter your name, home address, place of origin and destination as well as the time of entry and, if applicable, the flight number. Information on fellow travelers is also requested. In some federal states, criminal prosecutors are allowed to access the inventory for investigative purposes – such as guest lists from restaurants, for example.

Missing encryption – data transfer initially via Deutsche Post

The data would be encrypted via the online application, “only made available to the relevant health department and 14 days after entry automatically deleted “, assure the two departments. However, not all authorities connected via 370 have the technical option for secure data retrieval.

A transfer will take place for a limited transition period not directly to the responsible health department, “but first to Deutsche Post,” a spokesman for the Federal Data Protection Officer told Netzpolitik.org. The detour is necessary because the hardware and software are not yet available everywhere to set up an encrypted VPN connection to the Bundesdruckerei’s systems. This developed the DEA system as a “technology partner” of the Ministry of the Interior.

Post has access to the data In a note, the data protection authority advises that the interim solution should expire as soon as possible, as no end-to-end encryption or two-factor authentication would be used. In addition, in this scenario, the Post would have access to the data of travelers who fell within the catchment area of ​​the relevant health authorities.

(bme)