the coming year, there will be new opportunities and rights for consumers in the digital world. The digital
association Bitkom has compiled the most important innovations for 2022.
New label on digital products: IT security label
How secure are IT devices and online services? From the new year, the new IT security label is intended to provide
more clarity for consumers. Manufacturers and suppliers can apply for the label for selected product groups from the
Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). As soon as the BSI approves the application and the labeled products
come onto the market, you can find out about the security features using a QR code. Broadband routers and email
services are the first to be introduced. Other product groups such as smart home applications are to follow.
Information Obligation for Online Marketplaces
From May 28, 2022, further comprehensive information and transparency obligations will be introduced for online
marketplaces. Among other things, platform operators will have to explain in the future why certain products are
displayed at the top of the rankings. If a price has been calculated in a personalized manner, this must be clearly
indicated. In addition, companies must explain whether reviews were preceded by verified purchases, whether the
reviews were published unfiltered, or which rules are used to sort out certain – usually negative – reviews.
Obligation to take back old electrical appliances in supermarkets
More than 200 million unused smartphones are lying dormant in German drawers. In the future, it will be easier for
people in Germany to dispose of these and other old devices properly: From July 1, 2022, they can also be handed in
free of charge at large discounters and supermarkets with a retail space of more than 800 square meters. The
requirements for a free return: The edge length must be less than 25 cm or a new, comparable product must be
purchased. These regulations can be found in the amendment to the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act, which
comes into force on January 1, 2022.
update requirement for digital products and software
Smartphones, smart TVs and other smart products are generally more sustainable the longer they are used. To achieve
this, manufacturers of the devices and providers of digital instagram database services such as software will be required
to update and update from January 1, 2022. This is intended to ensure the long-term security and usability of the
products. However, the new consumer laws do not specify exactly how long digital products will have to be updated in
the future. In any case, consumers are entitled to the usual two-year warranty for smart devices.
New consumer rights for digital products and new consumer
The app keeps crashing, the stream is choppy, the cloud storage how does this happen? is unresponsive: From the new
year, consumers will have more rights when it comes to complaining about digital products – for example, physical data
storage devices, music and video files, e-books, apps, cloud applications or social networks. This means that you can
complain about defects in these products, have these defects remedied or even request a complete replacement. The
new rights also apply in part if consumers do not pay with money, but instead provide data in return.
Changed conditions for contract terminations
From March 2022, telephone and internet contracts that aubdirectory automatically renew after the minimum term
has expired can be terminated with one month’s notice. In addition, the provider must inform you in advance of the
automatic contract renewal. From July 2022, it will also be possible to terminate many contracts concluded
online using a cancellation button or link. This website function must be found in the same place where the contract
conclusion is offered and it must be clearly marked.
Vaccination certificate becomes part of the electronic patient record (ePA)
The electronic patient file (ePA) will be given additional functions this year. Over the course of the year, vaccination
records, maternity records, child examination records and dental bonus records can also be integrated. In addition,
insured persons have the option of determining who can access each stored document, for example for an examination
by a specialist. All those with statutory insurance have been able to receive the electronic patient file from their health
insurance company for a year now.
