Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. 32 requests, 2 domains. etracker loads without a banner, based on Art. 6(1)(e) + a Do-Not-Track opt-out. etracker GmbH is a Hamburg-based company; data stays in Germany. Fonts served locally. The same legal question as at ard.de: whether DNT is sufficient as an opt-out mechanism under TDDDG § 25.
Request timeline
Declared versus actual
Transfer timings
etracker e.js. Blocked by the browser (status 0). Hamburg, Germany.
Detected trackers
- etracker Analytics (code.etracker.com)
Indicators of GDPR non-compliance
- GDPR Art. 7; TDDDG § 25etracker (code.etracker.com/code/e.js) loads at +711 ms with no cookie banner and no user consent. The policy applies Art. 6(1)(e) DSGVO (public interest) as its legal basis and offers the browser's Do-Not-Track (DNT) signal as an opt-out mechanism. Per the EDPB and BfDI's position, DNT is not a sufficient consent mechanism under TDDDG § 25: consent must be active and must precede data processing, rather than relying on a browser setting. A response status of 0 (request blocked by the browser) means etracker was initiated but intercepted by a content blocker.
Context
BMDV (Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr) is the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. It regulates road, rail, waterway, and air transport, as well as telecommunications and digital infrastructure. HAR: 32 requests — one of the most minimalist stacks in the series. 31 requests to www.bmv.de, 1 to code.etracker.com.
etracker without a banner — the legal position and its limits
The policy takes an approach similar to ARD: etracker is used on the basis of Art. 6(1)(e) DSGVO (public interest) with no cookie banner. The opt-out mechanism is Do-Not-Track: “Wenn Sie mit der Speicherung und Auswertung dieser Daten aus Ihrem Besuch nicht einverstanden sind, dann können Sie in Ihrem Browser die Option Do-Not-Track aktivieren.” The policy describes in detail how to enable DNT in Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Opera.
The problem with DNT as an opt-out mechanism is twofold. First, DNT is an HTTP request header the browser sends to the server, but which the site can simply ignore; it is not a technically binding mechanism. Second, TDDDG § 25 requires active prior consent — the user must express consent before data processing begins, rather than configure their browser in the hope that the site will honor that setting. The BfDI has repeatedly pointed out that DNT is not a sufficient substitute for an active consent banner.
etracker — a German company
etracker GmbH (Hamburg, founded 2000) is a German analytics platform that positions itself as a GDPR-compliant alternative to Google Analytics. Data is stored in Germany; there is no transatlantic transfer. This is a fundamental difference from most sites with findings in the Irish series: the data does not leave Germany. Nonetheless, TDDDG § 25 makes no exception for national providers.
Response status 0 — the browser, not a consent mechanism
etracker loads with a response status of 0 and a response time of 0 ms — the request was blocked by the audit browser’s content blocker (uBlock Origin or similar), not by any consent mechanism on the site. The request to code.etracker.com was nonetheless initiated — the JS code executed and dispatched the request to the external server. The browser-level blocker intercepted it after initiation.
Conclusion
bmv.de takes the same legal approach as ard.de, but with etracker instead of Piano Analytics: analytics with no banner, based on public interest, with DNT as the opt-out. The architecture is minimalist (32 requests, 2 domains), fonts are local, and data stays in Germany. The open legal question — whether DNT is sufficient as an opt-out mechanism under TDDDG § 25 — remains a subject of debate between German state authorities and data protection supervisory bodies.
How to verify: download the file and compute its checksum — sha256sum file.har (Linux, macOS) or certutil -hashfile file.har SHA256 (Windows); it must match the one shown. The conclusions apply to the scope of this measurement — see the limitations of the method.
859ccc44f328fe18c385891e814b3367d2860907f1f40d57b7cc5d62f8f157d5Want a response from the company about this audit? → Open the tool
Fill in once — it will be inserted into every letter below:
All fields are required to print the document — this is a formal requirement of the letter itself (the particulars of an official submission), not data collection: nothing is sent or saved anywhere, it all stays in your browser and disappears when you close the page. See the methodology for details.
RIA DigiDoc — phone · Smart-ID / Mobile-ID
Send this letter directly to the company first — before contacting the regulator it has the right to respond (GDPR Art. 12(3) — 30 days).
Тема: Запрос доступа к персональным данным (ст. 15 GDPR) — bmv.de Кому: [укажите адрес компании — DPO / поддержка / юридический отдел] От: [Ваше имя], [контактный email] Прошу предоставить доступ к моим персональным данным, обрабатываемым в связи с использованием сайта bmv.de. 1. Категории данных и цели обработки (ст. 15(1)(a)-(c)) На основании независимого технического анализа сайта прошу подтвердить и подробно раскрыть следующие категории обработки: 1) etracker (code.etracker.com/code/e.js) загружается на +711 мс без cookie-баннера и без согласия пользователя. Политика применяет Art. 6 Abs. 1 lit. e DSGVO (публичный интерес) как правовое основание и предлагает Do-Not-Track (DNT) браузера как механизм opt-out. По позиции EDPB и BfDI, DNT не является достаточным механизмом согласия по TDDDG § 25: consent должен быть активным и предшествовать обработке данных, а не полагаться на настройку браузера. Статус ответа 0 (запрос заблокирован браузером) означает, что etracker был инициирован, но перехвачен контент-блокировщиком. 2. Получатели, сроки хранения и передача за пределы ЕЭЗ (ст. 15(1)(c)-(d), 46) Прошу также указать полный список третьих лиц-получателей, применимые сроки хранения по каждой категории и правовые основания передачи данных за пределы ЕЭЗ, если таковая происходит. Полный технический разбор с доказательствами (сохранённый сетевой журнал, контрольная сумма SHA-256) опубликован по адресу: https://gdpru.eu/en/audits/de-bmv-de/ 3. Автоматизированная обработка и профилирование (ст. 15(1)(h)) Прошу сообщить, применяется ли в отношении меня автоматизированное принятие решений или профилирование, и если да — раскрыть логику такой обработки. С уважением, [Ваше имя] [контактный email] [Страна] [Дата]
Subject: Data access request (GDPR Art. 15) — bmv.de To: [insert the company's address — DPO / support / legal department] From: [Your name], [contact email] I request access to my personal data processed in connection with the website bmv.de. 1. Categories of data and purposes of processing (Art. 15(1)(a)-(c)) Based on an independent technical analysis of the site, I request confirmation and detailed disclosure of the following categories of processing: 1) etracker (code.etracker.com/code/e.js) loads at +711 ms with no cookie banner and no user consent. The policy applies Art. 6(1)(e) DSGVO (public interest) as its legal basis and offers the browser's Do-Not-Track (DNT) signal as an opt-out mechanism. Per the EDPB and BfDI's position, DNT is not a sufficient consent mechanism under TDDDG § 25: consent must be active and must precede data processing, rather than relying on a browser setting. A response status of 0 (request blocked by the browser) means etracker was initiated but intercepted by a content blocker. 2. Recipients, retention periods, and transfers outside the EEA (Art. 15(1)(c)-(d), 46) I also request the full list of third-party recipients, the applicable retention period for each category, and the legal basis for any transfer of data outside the EEA. The full technical audit with evidence (saved network log, SHA-256 checksum) is published at: https://gdpru.eu/en/audits/de-bmv-de/ 3. Automated processing and profiling (Art. 15(1)(h)) Please state whether I am subject to automated decision-making or profiling, and if so, disclose the logic involved. Sincerely, [Your name] [contact email] [Country] [Date]
RIA DigiDoc — phone · Smart-ID / Mobile-ID
Where to file: Federal Commissioner for Data Protection (BfDI) — file a complaint online →
The regulator reviews complaints in its national language. There is an officially translated template from the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) — you can use it instead of or alongside this letter: Official EDPB complaint form (PDF, your language)
Тема: Жалоба на обработку персональных данных — bmv.de 1. Предмет жалобы Я подаю жалобу в отношении обработки моих персональных данных сайтом bmv.de. 2. Обстоятельства Я посетил сайт bmv.de и обнаружил признаки несоответствия обработки моих персональных данных требованиям GDPR. Технический разбор, опубликованный на gdpru.eu 29.05.2026 (открытая методология, воспроизводимые измерения), документирует следующие признаки: 1) etracker (code.etracker.com/code/e.js) загружается на +711 мс без cookie-баннера и без согласия пользователя. Политика применяет Art. 6 Abs. 1 lit. e DSGVO (публичный интерес) как правовое основание и предлагает Do-Not-Track (DNT) браузера как механизм opt-out. По позиции EDPB и BfDI, DNT не является достаточным механизмом согласия по TDDDG § 25: consent должен быть активным и предшествовать обработке данных, а не полагаться на настройку браузера. Статус ответа 0 (запрос заблокирован браузером) означает, что etracker был инициирован, но перехвачен контент-блокировщиком. Полная техническая документация опубликована по адресу: https://gdpru.eu/en/audits/de-bmv-de/ 3. Положения GDPR, соблюдение которых прошу проверить GDPR Art. 7; TDDDG § 25 4. Требование Прошу проверить изложенные обстоятельства и, если несоответствие подтвердится, принять меры, предусмотренные статьёй 58(2) GDPR. 5. Приложения Полная доказательная база — HAR-файл, контрольная сумма SHA-256 и цитата из политики конфиденциальности сайта, документирующая указанное противоречие — опубликована и проверяема по ссылке в пункте 2 выше. С уважением, [Ваше имя] [контактный email] [Страна] [Дата]
Subject: Complaint regarding personal data processing — bmv.de 1. Subject of the complaint I am filing a complaint regarding the processing of my personal data by the website bmv.de. 2. Circumstances I visited the website bmv.de and found indications that the processing of my personal data does not comply with the GDPR. The technical analysis published on gdpru.eu on 29 May 2026 (open methodology, reproducible measurements) documents the following indications: 1) etracker (code.etracker.com/code/e.js) loads at +711 ms with no cookie banner and no user consent. The policy applies Art. 6(1)(e) DSGVO (public interest) as its legal basis and offers the browser's Do-Not-Track (DNT) signal as an opt-out mechanism. Per the EDPB and BfDI's position, DNT is not a sufficient consent mechanism under TDDDG § 25: consent must be active and must precede data processing, rather than relying on a browser setting. A response status of 0 (request blocked by the browser) means etracker was initiated but intercepted by a content blocker. Full technical documentation is published at: https://gdpru.eu/en/audits/de-bmv-de/ 3. GDPR provisions I ask you to examine GDPR Art. 7; TDDDG § 25 4. Request I request that you examine the circumstances described and, if non-compliance is confirmed, apply the measures provided for in Article 58(2) GDPR. 5. Attachments The full evidence base — the HAR file, its SHA-256 checksum and the quotation from the site's privacy policy documenting the stated contradiction — is published and verifiable at the link in point 2 above. Sincerely, [Your name] [contact email] [Country] [Date]