Pending Decision on the Proposed Regulations
In a significant move, a constitutional complaint has been filed against the Bavarian Police Duty Act on July 23, 2025, by a group that includes individuals associated with Fan Help SpVgg Greuther Furth, the Society for Civil Liberties (GFF), and the Chaos Computer Club (CCC). The focus of the complaint is the Police Surveillance Software VeRA, a tool used by the Bavarian police for automated data analysis.
The software, based on the Gotham platform of the US company Palantir, analyses vast amounts of data from various sources, establishes digital connections, and generates risk profiles. However, critics argue that the use of VeRA constitutes an attack on fundamental rights, as it can be applied to completely innocent persons, as reported by the complainants.
Lawyer Franziska Görtlitz of GFF states that the algorithms used by VeRA are opaque and may lead to errors and discriminatory effects. The complaint filed by GFF argues that the use of VeRA violates the right to informational self-determination and the secrecy of telecommunications.
Johannes König, musician and co-organizer of the NoBayPAG demonstrations, expresses concern over the authoritarian nature of the Bavarian Police Duty Act and the use of VeRA. He calls for the Federal Constitutional Court to stop the latest development in Bavaria.
According to current law, the police can use VeRA not only for serious crimes but also for "danger prevention" without judicial control. This raises concerns that those affected by the analysis often remain unaware, even if it leads to surveillance measures.
It is important to note that there is no information available about a Federal Constitutional Court case specifically concerning the Bavarian Police Duty Act (Polizeiaufgabengesetz Bayern) and the VeRA surveillance software. As such, the current status and key issues of any Federal Constitutional Court proceedings involving these matters are not covered in publicly available summaries or recent news.
Interestingly, a constitutional complaint regarding the use of automated data analysis is also pending in North Rhine-Westphalia. Complainant Johannes König accuses the Bavarian government of relying on the surveillance software of right-wing conspiracy theorist Peter Thiel. Among the eight complainants are a criminal defense lawyer, activists, and persons from Fan Help SpVgg Greuther Furth.
As the case unfolds, it is crucial to monitor the developments closely to understand the implications for privacy and fundamental rights in Germany.
A young group of activists, including musicians and lawyers, fear the authoritarian use of technology in Bavaria, particularly the Police Surveillance Software VeRA. They argue that VeRA's algorithms may lead to errors and discriminatory effects, infringing on the right to informational self-determination and the secrecy of telecommunications.
