Wi-Fi terms of use
Terms of use and data protection information for the group's open Wi-Fi hotspot.
Last updated: 8 June 2026
Provider
Volt group on Münster City Council, Berliner Platz 35–37, 48143 Münster
Represented by Constanze Neugebauer (managing director) and Maren Berkenheide (group leader)
Contact: datenschutz@volt-muenster.de
1. Scope and acceptance
These terms of use govern the use of the free, open Wi-Fi access (hereinafter the “hotspot”) provided by the Volt group on Münster City Council (hereinafter the “provider”). By connecting to the hotspot and using the internet access, the user accepts these terms.
2. Service and availability
The hotspot is provided free of charge and on a voluntary basis. There is no legal entitlement to use it, to a particular transmission speed, to accessibility or to uninterrupted availability. The provider may restrict, change or discontinue the service in whole or in part at any time.
3. Permitted use
The user undertakes to use the hotspot only in accordance with applicable law. The following are prohibited in particular:
- accessing, storing, publishing or distributing content that violates applicable law (e.g. defamatory content, content inciting hatred, content harmful to minors, content glorifying violence or pornographic content);
- any infringement of copyright, trade mark or other third-party intellectual property rights, in particular the unauthorised downloading or uploading of copyrighted works (e.g. via file-sharing services);
- sending bulk or advertising messages (spam) or malware;
- unauthorised access to other networks, systems or data, and any action that impairs the security, stability or integrity of the hotspot or the network behind it;
- any other unlawful act.
The user is personally responsible for the content transmitted and the actions carried out via their access.
4. Protection of minors and filtering
Access may be subject to technical filtering measures, such as blocking websites listed on the index of the authority responsible for protecting children and young people in the media. This cannot guarantee complete protection against content that is harmful to minors or unlawful. Responsibility for supervising underage users lies with their parents or guardians.
5. No warranty, security of the connection
Data transmission via an open wireless network, which is usually unencrypted, is at the user's own risk. The provider gives no guarantee that the transmitted data is secure against access by third parties. The user is responsible for protecting their devices and data by taking appropriate measures (e.g. up-to-date security software, encrypted connections).
The provider gives no warranty that the hotspot is suitable for any particular purpose, that accessible content is complete or accurate, or against damage to the user's hardware or software.
6. Liability
The provider is not liable for any damage incurred by the user through use of the hotspot unless it is based on intent or gross negligence on the part of the provider or involves injury to life, body or health.
As a mere access provider, the provider is not responsible for content transmitted or accessed by users via the hotspot (cf. the statutory liability exemptions for access providers). If a user breaches these terms or applicable law, the user shall indemnify the provider against any resulting third-party claims.
7. Blocking and measures
The provider is entitled to exclude individual devices or users from the hotspot or to block access if there is a suspicion of a breach of these terms or of applicable law, or if the security of the network so requires.
8. Data protection information
Personal data processed in connection with the use of the hotspot is processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable data protection laws, in particular the Telecommunications and Digital Services Data Protection Act (Telekommunikation-Digitale-Dienste-Datenschutz-Gesetz, TDDDG).
8.1 Controller
The controller within the meaning of Art. 4(7) GDPR is the Volt group on Münster City Council, Berliner Platz 35–37, 48143 Münster, represented by Constanze Neugebauer (managing director) and Maren Berkenheide (group leader), datenschutz@volt-muenster.de.
8.2 Data processed
The following data may be processed when the hotspot is used:
- the IP address assigned to the device and the device identifier (MAC address) of the device;
- the time of logging on and off and the duration of the connection;
- the volume of data transferred;
- where a login page is used: the time at which these terms of use were accepted.
The provider does not record the actual content of the data traffic (e.g. websites visited).
8.3 Purposes and legal bases
The data is processed in order to provide internet access technically, to ensure the operation and security of the network and to detect and remedy faults or misuse.
The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR (provision of the requested access) and Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest in the secure and fault-free operation of the network). Where the provider is legally obliged to store data or processes data to comply with legal obligations, the legal basis is Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR.
8.4 Retention period
Connection data is only stored for as long as is necessary for the purposes stated and is then deleted. There is no indiscriminate storage beyond the duration of the connection (blanket data retention). Data is only stored for longer where this is necessary to pursue a specific suspicion of misuse or because of a statutory retention obligation.
8.5 Recipients of the data
The data is not disclosed to third parties unless the provider is legally obliged to do so (e.g. to law enforcement authorities on the basis of a lawful order) or the disclosure is necessary to safeguard legitimate interests, for example for technical provision by commissioned service providers. No data is transferred to countries outside the EU or the EEA.
8.6 Secrecy of telecommunications and end devices
With regard to data transmitted via the hotspot, the provider is bound by the secrecy of telecommunications. Where information that is not strictly necessary for providing access is stored on or read from the user's device, this is done only with the user's consent (§ 25 TDDDG).
8.7 No automated decision-making
No decisions based solely on automated processing, including profiling within the meaning of Art. 22 GDPR, are made.
8.8 Rights of the data subject
The user has the right of access (Art. 15 GDPR), rectification (Art. 16 GDPR), erasure (Art. 17 GDPR), restriction of processing (Art. 18 GDPR) and data portability (Art. 20 GDPR), as well as the right to object to processing (Art. 21 GDPR). To exercise these rights, it is sufficient to notify the controller named in section 8.1.
8.9 Right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority
Without prejudice to any other remedies, the user has the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority. The competent authority is, in particular, the North Rhine-Westphalia Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (LDI NRW), Kavalleriestraße 2–4, 40213 Düsseldorf.
8.10 Voluntary provision of data
Providing the data is neither a statutory nor a contractual requirement. However, the hotspot cannot be used without processing the technically necessary connection data.
8.11 Further privacy information
Additional information on data protection can be found in the privacy policy.
9. Changes to the terms of use
The provider reserves the right to amend these terms of use with effect for the future. The version published at the time of use applies in each case.
10. Final provisions
The law of the Federal Republic of Germany applies. Should any provision of these terms of use be or become invalid in whole or in part, the validity of the remaining provisions shall not be affected.