INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Data Act definitively approved by the EU Parliament.
The legislation was adopted with 481 votes to 31, with 71 abstentions. It will now need formal approval by Council to become law.
The "Data Act", already agreed between MEPs and member states, aims to stimulate innovation by eliminating barriers to data access.
The new legislation establishes rules on the sharing of data generated through the use of connected products or related services (e.g. the Internet of Things, industrial machinery) and allows users to access the data they generate. It will contribute to the development of new services, particularly in artificial intelligence, where vast amounts of data are required for algorithm training. It also aims to make after-sales services and repairs of connected devices cheaper. In exceptional circumstances or emergencies, such as floods and wildfires, public sector bodies will be able to access and use data held by the private sector, the new law stipulates.
Protection of trade secrets and prevention of unlawful data transfers.
MEPs secured a clear definition of trade secrets and trade secret holders to prevent unlawful data transfers and data leaks to countries with weaker data protection regulations. They also want to avoid competitors in a particular field being able to exploit access to data to reverse-engineer services or devices of their rivals.
The new law facilitates the ability to switch between cloud service providers – companies that offer network services, infrastructure, or business applications in the cloud- and introduces safeguards against unlawful international data transfers by these companies. MEPs ensured that the Data Act means cloud service customers will have the power to negotiate contracts and avoid being "locked in" with a particular provider.
The "Data Act", already agreed between MEPs and member states, aims to stimulate innovation by eliminating barriers to data access.
The new legislation establishes rules on the sharing of data generated through the use of connected products or related services (e.g. the Internet of Things, industrial machinery) and allows users to access the data they generate. It will contribute to the development of new services, particularly in artificial intelligence, where vast amounts of data are required for algorithm training. It also aims to make after-sales services and repairs of connected devices cheaper. In exceptional circumstances or emergencies, such as floods and wildfires, public sector bodies will be able to access and use data held by the private sector, the new law stipulates.
Protection of trade secrets and prevention of unlawful data transfers.
MEPs secured a clear definition of trade secrets and trade secret holders to prevent unlawful data transfers and data leaks to countries with weaker data protection regulations. They also want to avoid competitors in a particular field being able to exploit access to data to reverse-engineer services or devices of their rivals.
The new law facilitates the ability to switch between cloud service providers – companies that offer network services, infrastructure, or business applications in the cloud- and introduces safeguards against unlawful international data transfers by these companies. MEPs ensured that the Data Act means cloud service customers will have the power to negotiate contracts and avoid being "locked in" with a particular provider.
