Apple has only recently started to reopen its own retail stores. On Monday of this week, the Apple Stores in Germany start.
However, the company wants to focus on service and support. Some safety measures are being implemented to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including contactless temperature checks at the entrance. But that could now be a problem. A new Bloomberg Law According to a report, a data protection authority in Hesse is concerned that Apple's temperature checks on customers violate European Union data protection regulations. The report states:
The investigation by the Hessian data protection authority comes after Apple reopened stores across Germany on May 11 with additional safety precautions, including temperature checks and social distancing.
The office wants to know whether the fever measurements violate the current data protection regulations, said Ulrike Müller, a spokeswoman for the Hessian data protection commissioner. There are no results of the investigation yet and the office is coordinating with other German data protection authorities, said Müller.
Mask requirement and safety distance
Apple says it is following local health authorities closely. They consider temperature checks to be essential for the reopening of retail stores, as this measure can significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19. It remains questionable whether Apple's safety precautions actually violate the European Union's current data protection regulations. In addition to temperature checks, customers must also wear a mask. Apple also only allows a small number of customers into the store in order to ensure a safe distance. This means that there may also be longer waiting times. (Photo by jes2ufoto / Bigstockphoto)
