EU Court Rules SNCF Must Stop Requiring Gender Identification for Ticket Purchases

The European Court of Justice deemed the collection of gender data unnecessary, setting a precedent for privacy and inclusivity across the EU.

The European Court of Justice ruled that requiring customers to indicate gender ('Monsieur' or 'Madame') for train ticket purchases is not necessary for service execution.
The decision follows a legal challenge by the LGBT+ advocacy group Mousse, which argued the practice violated EU data protection laws and discriminated against non-binary and transgender individuals.
The court emphasized the principle of data minimization, stating that SNCF could use inclusive and non-gendered communication alternatives.
The ruling may influence businesses and public institutions across the EU to adopt more inclusive practices in their forms and communications.
While the ruling provides guidance, the French Council of State will ultimately decide the case's resolution at the national level.