If you wish to make use of secure electronic communication via the platform for secure communication in Bavaria (hereinafter referred to as: "platform") to communicate with the connected public authorities (in particular public agencies or chambers), you must accept the following terms of use:
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Operator
The platform enables the encrypted electronic communication between citizens / entrepreneurs (users) and connected public authorities (in particular public agencies or chambers). The aim is to create data protection compliant electronic access to the administration. The platform is operated by the Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Digitales.
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Voluntary use
The use of the platform is on a voluntary basis. This applies to you as a private user as well as to the public authority. This means that you can only reach authorities via the platform that have registered with the platform. A current list of public authorities registered with the platform can be found here.
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Costs
The use of the platform is free of charge.
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Access
In order to contact connected public authorities via this platform you have to register (see Terms of use of the authentication service) and log in to the platform with a defined user name and password. You are responsible for the confidentiality of your access data.
The platform makes use of active components such as Javascript, Java applets or Active-X controls. If you deactivate these functions in your browser settings, you will not be able to use the platform.
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User account
During registration, you create and activate your user account. The account is automatically blocked if you enter the password for your user name incorrectly five times. It can also be blocked by the operator, particularly if
- repeated advertising, chain letters, snow-ball systems with corresponding requests or illegal, obviously misleading or discriminating content are sent to public authorities,
- viruses or other malware are uploaded via this mailbox or
- manipulation with regard to the origin of the transmission is detected.
You will be informed of any automatic blocking by e-mail. You can also block your account yourself, e.g. if someone else has knowledge of your password. If you notice any conspicuous activities, please inform us by e-mail at direkt@bayern.de.
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Case mailbox
Communication with connected public authorities takes place via case mailboxes. You have to create a case mailbox in the platform per request to update documents and to send and receive messages. Whenever a message is sent to your case mailbox, you will be notified of this by e-mail.
A case mailbox is only available for a limited period of time. If you do not use the case mailbox longer than six months, you will receive an e-mail requesting you to make use of it by sending an e-mail from the account or by downloading documents that you have not yet saved locally. In the event of persisting inactivity, the case mailbox will be automatically deleted once the monthly period has expired.
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Permissible document formats
You can only upload and send the following document formats via the case mailbox:
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File formats for text:
- PDF and PDF/A
- DOC and DOCX (without active components / macros only)
- TXT
- RTF, from Version 1.6
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File formats for images:
- TIFF
- JPG oder JPEG
- GIF
- PNG
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File formats for text:
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Maximum document size
Individual files for uploading may not be larger than 5 MB. The maximum size of a message, incl. its attachments sent to a connected public authority may not exceed 10 MB.
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Virus scan
In addition to checking file format and size, the documents are checked for malware when uploading, in particular for computer viruses. If malware or other errors are detected, the upload function will not work. In this case, a corresponding message is shown.
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Date security
The files to be sent are uploaded via the secure hypertext transfer protocol "https" and saved in an encrypted format. Messages to competent authorities are sent as encrypted e-mails (certification of the Bavarian administration PKI). You can also receive documents from the authority in the same manner.
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Data protection
By using the platform, you have the opportunity to contact the connected public authorities and to transmit data to them. The Bayerische Staatsministerium für Digitales has taken on the task of providing this platform on behalf of the affiliated public authorities.
The connected public authorities themselves remain responsible for the handling of their personal data. Please refer to the platform's privacy declaration for the necessary information from the Bayerische Staatsministerium für Digitales in accordance with Art. 13 DSGVO.
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Documents requiring the written form
If the written form is prescribed by law, documents cannot be transmitted via the platform in compliance with form requirements unless they have a qualified electronic signature. If no qualified electronic signature is used, in order to comply with form requirements, you will have to print out the documents, sign with your handwritten signature and send it to the competent authority.
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Notification of administrative acts
Before sending a message, you have the possibility to approve the electronic notification of an administrative act by "checkmarking" it. The approval only applies to the concretely selected formality for which you have sent a message to the authority. It can be revoked with effect for the future at any time by deleting the case mailbox.
The competent authority can notify you of an (electronic) administrative act via the platform by submitting the administrative act to your case mailbox. You will also receive a notification e-mail for any messages that are sent to your case mailbox. Please also check your spam filter.
Please note: By submitting an administrative act in your case mailbox, you are notified of the administrative act. Submission to your case mailbox therefore initiates opposition and appeal deadlines. This also applies if you have not read the message although the platform was available. You are responsible for checking your case mailbox on a regular basis.
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Deadlines
Applications or notifications are often bound by deadlines. If you would like to keep a deadline, the documents required to keep the deadline must be fully submitted to the competent authority before the deadline expires. You can request a confirmation of receipt from the competent authority by selecting the respective option via the platform before sending it.
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Disclaimer
The operator of the platform does not assume any guarantees or liability for the success of a transmission. For technical reasons, unrestricted access to the platform in terms of time cannot be granted, yet we aspire to achieve the technically best-possible degree of availability. No liability is assumed for technical content.
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Property rights
The platform was developed by the Freistaat Bayern. No rights are acquired through the use of the platform. You will ensure that the documents made available to the competent authorities can be freely used within the framework of case handling and that they do not violate any third-party rights.
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Changes to the terms of use
The operator of the platform reserves the right to adapt the terms of use in order to comply with any legal, technical or other kinds of changes. In this case, you will be notified by e-mail. If you do not consent to the changes, you may revoke within a period of 6 weeks. If you exercise your right to revocation, you can no longer make use of the platform.
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End of use
You may refrain from using the platform at any time. You can delete your user account as well as individual case accounts. Of course, you can also delete individual documents or messages in a case mailbox. The deletion cannot be undone.
If you delete a case mailbox, you have to delete all documents and messages it contains beforehand. Automatic deletion of a case mailbox is set to be performed following six months of inactivity. You will be notified of this in advance by e-mail (first reminder e-mail four weeks prior to scheduled deletion, second reminder e-mail one week prior to scheduled deletion).
If you delete your user account, you will have to delete all case mailboxes first. The automatic deletion of a user account is set to take place after three years of inactivity, i.e. three years after the last login to the platform. You will be notified of this in advance by e-mail (first reminder e-mail two months prior to scheduled deletion, second reminder e-mail one month prior to scheduled deletion). To prevent your user account from being deleted, all you have to do is log in to the platform prior to the scheduled deletion date. If your user account is deleted, all of your data will be entirely deleted. If you would like to make use of the platform at a later time, you will have to register anew.