EC Floats New Rules on Access to Data

Data is an "untapped potential," the European Commission said Wednesday. As part of its European strategy for data, it floated new rules for use of data, saying its volume has grown from 33 zettabytes generated in 2018 to 175 zettabytes expected in 2025. The Data Act will address the legal, economic and technical issues causing its under-usage, the EC said. The rules will make more data available for reuse and are expected to create 270 billion euros ($306 billion) additional GDP by 2028. Proposals include measures to allow users of connected devices to gain access to the data generated by them, often harvested exclusively by manufacturers, and to share it with third parties to provide after-market services such as predictive maintenance; and provisions to rebalance the negotiating power for small and mid-sized enterprises by preventing abuse of contract imbalances in data-sharing agreements. It provides for ways for public sector bodies to access and use data held by the private sector when needed for exceptional circumstances such as public emergencies, and it allows customers to switch between different cloud data-processing services providers while safeguarding against unlawful data transfer. The proposal is "well-intended but in need of improvements," said the Computer & Communications Industry Association. It "will serve the EU's digital ambitions if it protects confidential business information, treats all companies equally, and avoids creating new data flow restrictions," said Public Policy Director Alexandre Roure. The proposal is "essential to consumers," said the European Consumer Organisation: People originate much of the data via their use of connected devices and digital services and must be able to control how and with whom their data is shared.