Overview

• A citywide database failure on Friday morning disabled Berlin’s VOIS system, halting services like passport and driver’s license applications.
• The outage forced citizen offices to revert to paper-based processes, postponing hundreds of appointments across all districts.
• By Friday afternoon, officials confirmed that the issue was resolved, and all systems were back online without data loss.
• Authorities stated that the incident was not caused by a cyberattack, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
• The outage has reignited criticism of Berlin's digital infrastructure, with calls for stronger cybersecurity and modernization efforts.