Verzeichnisinformationen

Verzeichnisinformationen, also known as directory information, are a set of data collected and stored by German telephone directory publishing companies, formerly also by Deutsche Telekom. This data includes the names of individuals and businesses, their addresses, and at times even their phone numbers. Various parties can utilize this information for various purposes, such as postal delivery, marketing efforts, and in some cases, it may also be available to the public interested in purchasing published directories or accessing the online equivalent.

The collection and storage of Verzeichnisinformationen in the Federal Republic of Germany is subject to German data protection laws. Data subjects have the right to access and request corrections to their data, which in turn may lead to repercussions for the companies handling this data.

There are restrictions on using the numbers in the address categorization, delegated to those of the Federal State data protection regulators. Data subjects can file complaints with the responsible data protection authorities if certain misuses of their information have occurred. Regulatory bodies monitor and enforce the correct treatment and also the guidelines for marketing and regulations applicable to publicized information are formulated.

In Germany, the regulation of access to and data protection for Verzeichnisinformationen has evolved due to landmark judgments and legislation. New guidelines could be coming into effect, making it more burdensome for directory managers and access the individual data about addresses online access more exclusive to registered users who are obliged to simply confirm an existing direct contact.