[7Z7]

In general privacy law seem to work under the "expectation of privacy", which is why you see signs warning of security cameras or monitors showing what they see.

In a rented room scenario, you obviously have an expectation of privacy up until someone tells you explicitly that there are cameras in the space, at which point I guess you can decide whether or not you want to stay there.

So in this case (and depending on local laws, obviously) it seems like the renter would have to convince a judge that the photo of the room with a white blob in the corner was enough notice to circumvent that expectation of privacy.

[rjzzleep]

I recently stayed in an AirBnB in Hamburg/Germany. Not only did he write that it's not a hostel everywhere. He used his smart home to keep the temperature below the legal limit and had all internals checked setup with cameras without any information. From the way he talked he also checked whether you exited the shower(not literally the shower, but the bathroom).

He also had Bottles of sausages and would check through the camera who used them without paying. He also charged 50 cents for those coffee pads and used the camera to check on it.

When I asked him to turn on the heater he lied to AirBnB on the phone(which they recorded) and then assaulted me and kicked me out.

His one listing was removed temporarily but his other listings are still there. So yeah, even a hostel would have been better.

Edit: the response from AirBnB was way better than the response from German authorities, but that may have been because they heard everything on the phone.

[detaro]

I seriously hope you reported this to the authorities and not just AirBnB?

[rjzzleep]

It's Germany, and I have dark hair. When I went to file a police report the tall blonde police officer, he and his colleagues were mocking me in the back.

I ended up telling them off and will report it to the tax office. Which, while nasty seems to be only thing that will get that guy into trouble, Police at least doesn't care even though he violates a dozen laws including standard German privacy practice.

[detaro]

Ugh, bad cop. I'd encourage you to try that again/file a complaint, but I understand if you don't want to deal with that.

Hamburg DPO would be another avenue: https://datenschutz-hamburg.de/

If you're interested in involving media, heise.de and golem.de might be interested - at least some of there journalists are on here too.

[anc84]

I am calling bullshit.

There is very little chance that German police in Hamburg would not consider those alligations serious. Lots of Germans have black hair. Few Germans are tall and blonde. German police will file your case in any case.

[rjzzleep]

I guess you don't have a lot of experience with the police here.

This is actually very common. Whether you have dark hair or not, the former just makes it more likely. What I learned is that by law they're supposed to do that job. However, the general recommendation is not to go to the police, but rather to write the complaint to the DAs office[1]. Not only is a complaint to the DA office generally more fruitful they also immediately give you a reference number, which is more valuable than what most police officers will give you when you file a complaint there.

I'm going to contact the DPO yes, but I don't have any expectations. I'm not a big fan of Casper actually, his last legal publication is about animal rights. The SH DPO is way better efficient and faster at decisions. The line up is two ladies leading it, one of them with a technical background(computer scientist) and the other one a lawyer[2]. I work in German government, and we even tried to pay SH to get feedback(something they won't do).

That's why I was surprised when the Hamburg DPO received praise at the 35C3, since that's not inline with what I've seen from them at all.

[1] https://www.unternehmer.de/recht-gesetze/122808-so-erstatten... [2] https://www.datenschutzzentrum.de/ueber-uns/

[lgierth]

Racist behaviour by German police is a thing. No need to call "bullshit" on something that you haven't experienced yourself yet.

> German police will file your case in any case.

Yeah, that's what you'd expect. Doesn't always happen.

[decebalus1]

While an anecdote doesn't prove much, a distant relative of mine with a more Mediterranean appearance was detained by police in Munchen on allegations that the bicycle he was riding was stolen as he allegedly fit the description of a bike thief. After proving them wrong they mocked him saying something like 'how did someone like you managed to land such a high paying job? Do your colleagues like working with you? I mean you know.. considering... etc.. etc..'. I don't know what happened with his complaints post-factum but it's not the first time I hear about racist/xenophobe behavior by law enforcement in Germany.

[woolvalley]

What happens if you insinuate that they're going to join the Nazi party next?

[rellui]

I've lived in Germany and there are still clear race issues left in certain areas but I can't speak for police personally. It's all very hush hush as well which is one of the reason I dislike Germany and would not live there again. I live in the U.S. now and for comparison, there are some tensions here too but it's on the surface and in general much better.

[laurentoget]

Police do kill many many more people in the US than in Germany though, which makes your statement feel less than believable.

[pbhjpbhj]

The legal temperature limit for what? For paid accommodation, for hotels?

What is that limit; what law is it in?

[rjzzleep]

It's Germany, livable space has to be at least 20 degrees Celsius(68F).

He has summer blankets in the room with spare blankets and tries to charge 1.5 Euro per extra blanket.

[anc84]

Are you refering to the obligations of long-term rental landlords? I don't see that having much legal relevance to short-term rent like Airbnb.

[pbhjpbhj]

Is that limit applicable domestically - like would children be able to enforce it against a carer/parent. Or does it only apply to commercial arrangements?

Do you get to demand 20degC at work?

20degC is a bit hot for my liking, 18 degC as a minimum, perhaps - one should expect to wear a jumper in Winter.

[detaro]

> Do you get to demand 20degC at work?

Yes, if it's office work or other work without physical activity. Limits are lower for more active work. (and of course special rules exist for environments where working in cooler/cooled rooms is required)

[mscasts]

Well in Sweden (which is where I live), at least one case I know of where I man video taped him having sex with women in his apartment didn't get any repercussions for it since it's perfectly legal to film someone in your own home without them knowing about it.

It is illegal however, to share that film without consent or video tape outside the apartment. You can video tape with your camera moving around in a public space without permission, but same here you cannot share it online or something like that.

I agree with these rulings and I think it should indeed be legal to video tape inside your own home. It's very illogical if that wasn't the case.

[timc3]

I think they changed the law a year or so ago so that would now be illegal.

[mscasts]

Really, I haven't heard anything about that?