This sheet contains all of the important questions and answers in relation to Deutsche Telekom's data privacy competition. Do you require additional information? Then please send an e-mail to privacy-bot@telekom.de.
About the competition
Is data privacy falling by the wayside in the rush to digitize? Deutsche Telekom is launching a competition to prove that this does not have to be the case. The competition kicks off on European Data Protection Day on January 28, 2017. The objective is to find concepts for technically implementing a privacy bot, in other words an intelligent, digital data privacy assistant. The winner of the competition will receive 10,000 euros, while second and third place prizes of 2,500 and 1,000 euros respectively will also be awarded. Deutsche Telekom would moreover like to shepherd any potential implementation of the concept into practice. Further information is available here.
What is a privacy bot? What is its purpose?
Bots are virtual assistants that companies are currently developing for customer service applications, for instance. The purpose of the privacy bot is to scan the data privacy provisions of Internet services and compare them with the user’s predefined requirements and preferences. This is intended to make it easier for consumers to make use of existing data privacy options. The bot will not be restricted to individual providers, such as Facebook or Amazon, but it must be possible to use it for all web services.
The goal is this: The customer uses the bot to enter his or her desired data privacy standards just once. The digital assistant then checks all the Internet services and adapts the data privacy settings accordingly or rejects the services. Data privacy settings include, for example, the use of data for other purposes, the period for data storage, and the disclosure of data to third parties. The bot saves the customer having to read through the data privacy settings of every service.
How can I participate?
The concept can be submitted in German or English by April 30, 2017 either by e-mail to privacy-bot@telekom.de or by post on a data medium (e.g. USB, Stick, DVD or CD) to Deutsche Telekom, Group Headquarters, Group Privacy, GPR-ECA, Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 140, D-53113 Bonn, Germany.
Who can participate?
The competition is open to anyone over 18 years of age – including Deutsche Telekom employees. If several developers are involved in a submission, all co-developers should be named in the statement of participation. On submitting collective work, the individual making the submission declares that he or she has informed and obtained the agreement of the co-developers especially in relation to the point about communicating the winners.
What are the prizes?
- Prize: €10,000
- Prize: €2,500
- Prize: €1,000
What requirements must the concept fulfill?
The PrivacyBot is a technical platform between service providers and users, which transports the user's data privacy settings and ensures the settings are implemented. The idea submitted should at least have the maturity of a "technical blueprint".
How will the winner be selected?
A jury made up of data privacy and innovation experts from Deutsche Telekom as well as members of Deutsche Telekom's Data Privacy Advisory Board will select the top three prizewinners. The winners will be notified by mail or post. If the winner fails to contact Deutsche Telekom within 15 working days following notification (postmark date or date of e-mail), the prize shall be forfeited and can be awarded otherwise. The rights for the concepts will remain with the developers.
Communication of winners
In case of a win, the winner agrees to have his or her name and a photo published in the context of announcing the competition result.
Notes on data privacy
The data collected in relation to participation will only be collected and stored for the purpose of carrying out the competition. All data will be erased immediately on completion of the competition.
