News item | 7/14/2023 | 3:30 pm
The use of digital data is indispensable in the economy and society. Cross-border regulation that ensures a better distribution of the great value of data is therefore essential for companies and consumers. The EU Data Act is an important step towards making the data economy as a whole work better. Member States have today expressed their support for the provisional political agreement that the Council previously reached with the European Parliament.
The Data Act will ensure that you keep control of your own data throughout the EU, for example, so that you can use this data in the way you want. For example, there will be rules in the EU about who can access and use data from smart devices. This gives consumers and companies more say. They can also more easily switch between cloud services and connect services from different cloud providers. The Netherlands pushed for these two important parts of the Data Act during the negotiations.
Minister Micky Adriaansens (EZK): “These regulations will soon make it possible for consumers and companies to gain access to the data generated by their use of digitally connected devices. Think of cars, household appliances and industrial machines. This is currently often reserved for manufacturers and service providers. So you cannot have your own data or share it at your own discretion. I do want to make that possible, as well as sufficient competition between companies and more room for innovation. A well-functioning and fair data economy cannot do without new standards.”
Rules for sharing data
The EU Data Act also lays down rules for sharing data. Such as a reasonable compensation to companies for making data available, good dispute resolution and tackling any unfair contract conditions.
In improving the data economy, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate collaborates with both the business community and the organizations involved within, among other things, the center of excellence for data sharing and the cloud. and the Dutch AI Coalition. In addition to legislation, there is also a broader focus on, for example, encouraging data sharing in practice. The EU agreement must then be submitted for approval to the EU member states and the European Parliament. The EU Data Act could then apply from mid-2025.