The Green Party’s consumer protection spokesperson, Till Steffen, has expressed disappointment regarding the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (VZBV) against discount retailer Lidl. While acknowledging the initial setback, Steffen noted the appellate court in Stuttgart’s decision to allow for a potential appeal signifies a potential avenue for further legal challenge.
Steffen highlighted a growing trend in data collection practices by retailers, moving beyond traditional loyalty programs to increasingly sophisticated app-based systems that track consumer purchasing habits. While consumers often benefit from discounted prices in exchange for sharing this data, he questioned the transparency of this exchange.
He argued that it is unreasonable to expect consumers to meticulously review lengthy terms and conditions when opting to use such applications and criticized the practice of advertising these apps as “free” when users are, in effect, paying with their data.
Steffen emphasized the necessity of robust consumer protection measures to guard against manipulative offers. He advocated for a framework prioritizing fair and transparent data usage as the cornerstone of all digital business models.
