Regulation (EU) 2023/2854 on harmonised rules on fair access to and use of data and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/2394 and Directive (EU) 2020/1828 (Data Act)

Summary:

Regulation (EU) 2023/2854 - adopted by the co-legislators on 13 December 2023 - introducing new rules on who can use and access data generated in the European Union (EU) across all economic sectors. This is known as the Data Act. This is a text with EEA relevance.

Further information:

This Regulation lays down rules on the availability of product data and related service data to the user of the connected product or related service, the availability of data by data holders to data recipients, the availability of data by data holders to public sector bodies, the facilitation of switching between data processing services, the introduction of safeguard against unlawful third-party access to non-personal data, and the development of interoperability standards for data to be accessed, transferred and used.

The Data Act is seen as a key a pillar of the European Strategy for Data, and it complements the Data Governance Act. It seeks to contribute to the creation of a cross-sectoral governance framework for data access and use by legislating on matters that affect relations between data economy actors, in order to provide incentives for horizontal data sharing across sectors. The Regulation aims at ensuring fairness in the allocation of value from data among actors in the data economy and fostering access to and use of data.

The draft law was adopted by the European Commission on 23 February 2022. The plenary of the European Parliament endorsed a negotiating position on 14 March 2023. The Council of the European Union adopted its general approach to the proposed Regulation on 24 March. An informal agreement between the co-legislators on a compromise text for the file was reached on 27 June. This was formally endorsed by Parliament on 9 November and by the Council on 27 November. The Act was signed by the co-legislators on 13 December 2023 and published in the Official Journal on 22 December 2023.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

Deloitte: The EU Data Act: What does it mean for you? https://www2.deloitte.com/lu/en/pages/technology/articles/the-eu-data-act-what-does-it-mean-for-you.html

Euronews: Next, 23/02/2022: All you need to know about the European Union’s new Data Act and how it will affect Big Tech https://www.euronews.com/next/2022/02/23/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-european-union-s-new-data-act-and-how-it-will-affect-big-te

IAPP: News, 23/02/2022: Data Act: The EU makes its next move for industrial data https://iapp.org/news/a/data-act-the-eu-makes-its-next-move-for-industrial-data/

Digital Europe: Press Release, 23/02/2022: Data Act: Right ambition to unlock data potential, but obligations would hold back Europe’s data-driven recovery https://www.digitaleurope.org/news/data-act-right-ambition-to-unlock-data-potential-but-obligations-would-hold-back-europes-data-driven-recovery/

CMS Law-Now: eAlerts, 24/02/2022: Proposal for EU Data Act adopted – Commission Aims at Boosting Europe’s Data Economy with new legal rules for data access and sharing https://www.cms-lawnow.com/ealerts/2022/02/proposal-for-eu-data-act-adopted

Hunton Andrews Kurth: Privacy & Information Security Law Blog, 24/02/2022: European Commission Publishes Draft Data Act https://www.huntonprivacyblog.com/2022/02/24/european-commission-publishes-draft-data-act/

DR2 Consultants: Blog, 24/02/2022: European Data Act: a harmonized framework for accessing and sharing data https://dr2consultants.eu/european-data-act/

Competition Policy International: In the News, 24/02/2022: EC Proposes “EU Data Act”, Forcing Manufacturers To Share Data https://www.competitionpolicyinternational.com/ec-proposes-eu-data-act-forcing-manufacturers-to-share-data/

The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities: News, 28/02/2022: The Guild sets recommendations for the Data Act proposal https://www.the-guild.eu/news/2022/the-guild-sets-recommendations-for-the-data-act-pr.html

Covington: Inside Privacy, 28/02/2022: European Commission Publishes Draft Data Act https://www.insideprivacy.com/european-union-2/13667/

Norton Rose Fullbright: Publications, March 2022: The EU’s Data Act: Capstone of the EU Data Strategy https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/en/knowledge/publications/62517353/the-eus-data-act-capstone-of-the-eu-data-strategy

Confederation of Swedish Enterprise: Article, 01/03/2022: The Data Act - with new rules for all sectors as regard the rights to use data https://www.svensktnaringsliv.se/english/the-data-act-with-new-rules-for-all-sectors-as-regard-the-rights_1182179.html

Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS): In Brief, 02/03/2022: The Data Act: six impossible things before breakfast? https://www.ceps.eu/the-data-act-six-impossible-things-before-breakfast/

Lawfare Blog, 04/03/2022: Cultivating Europe’s Data Garden https://www.lawfareblog.com/cultivating-europes-data-garden

Wolters Kluwer: Copyright Blog, 04/03/2022: A vanishing right? The Sui Generis Database Right and the proposed Data Act http://copyrightblog.kluweriplaw.com/2022/03/04/a-vanishing-right-the-sui-generis-database-right-and-the-proposed-data-act/

Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS): Policy Insights, 04/03/2022: The EU Data Act. Towards a new European data revolution? https://www.ceps.eu/ceps-publications/the-eu-data-act/

Pinsent Masons: OUT-LAW News, 09/03/2022: EU Data Act: new rules for data exchanges between businesses, users and third parties https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/news/eu-data-act-new-rules-for-data-exchanges

Eversheds Sutherland: Article, 10/03/2022: The new EU Data Act: European Commission proposes measures for a fair and innovative data economy https://www.eversheds-sutherland.com/global/en/what/articles/index.page?ArticleID=en/Financial_services/data-act-shaping-europe-digital-future

Linklaters: Blog, 16/03/2022: EU: The “Data Act” – New rules on IoT data and switching cloud services https://www.linklaters.com/de-lu/insights/blogs/digilinks/2022/march/eu---the-data-act---new-rules-on-iot-data-and-switching-cloud-services

Spanish Government: Blog, 24/03/2022: Data Act, a new initiative in the framework of the European Data Strategy https://datos.gob.es/en/blog/data-act-new-initiative-framework-european-data-strategy

KU Leuven: CiTiP Blog, 03/05/2022: Data Act Message – Legitimacy of the Data Processing and Consistency of Data Protection https://www.law.kuleuven.be/citip/blog/data-act-message-legitimacy-of-the-data-processing-and-consistency-of-data-protection/

European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA): Publications, 16/05/2022: Position paper – Proposal for a Data Act https://www.acea.auto/publication/position-paper-proposal-for-a-data-act/

European Law Blog, 14/06/2022: The Data Act or the final piece to create a comprehensive legal framework for international transfers of data https://europeanlawblog.eu/2022/06/14/the-data-act-or-the-final-piece-to-create-a-comprehensive-legal-framework-for-international-transfers-of-data/

Wolters Kluwer: Copyright Blog, 29/06/2022: A Closer Insight into Copyright related Issues in the Position Statement of the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition on the Commission’s Proposal for a Data Act https://copyrightblog.kluweriplaw.com/2022/06/29/a-closer-insight-into-copyright-related-issues-in-the-position-statement-of-the-max-planck-institute-for-innovation-and-competition-on-the-commissions-proposal-for-a-data-act/

French National Commission on Informatics and Liberty (CNIL), 13/07/2022: European strategy for data: the CNIL and its counterparts comment on the Data Governance Act and the Data Act https://www.cnil.fr/en/european-strategy-data-cnil-and-its-counterparts-comment-data-governance-act-and-data-act

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 14/07/2022: Data act - Initial Appraisal of a European Commission Impact Assessment https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)730351

Hogan Lovells: Knowledge Services, 08/09/2022: Data Act: the era of data availability (Part 1: obligation to share data) https://www.engage.hoganlovells.com/knowledgeservices/news/data-act-the-era-of-data-availability-part-1-obligation-to-share-data

Hogan Lovells: Knowledge Services, 17/10/2022: EU Data Act (Part 2): unfair terms in data sharing agreements https://www.engage.hoganlovells.com/knowledgeservices/news/data-act-part-2-unfair-terms-in-data-sharing-agreements

Ernst&Young (EY): Digital Law, 08/11/2022: The Data Act: new EU rules for data sharing https://www.ey.com/en_es/law/the-data-act-new-eu-rules-for-data-sharing

International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP): News, 09/12/2022: Latest compromise text of EU Data Act addresses 'outstanding issues' https://iapp.org/news/a/latest-compromise-text-of-eu-data-act-still-leaves-outstanding-issues-to-be-resolved/

Bruegel: Blog, 14/12/2022: How to fix the European Union’s proposed Data Act https://www.bruegel.org/blog-post/how-fix-european-unions-proposed-data-act

DigitalEurope: Statement, 01/02/2023: Joint Statement: The Data Act is a leap into the unknown https://www.digitaleurope.org/news/joint-statement-the-data-act-is-a-leap-into-the-unknown/

Hogan Lovells: Knowledge Services, 28/02/2023: EU Data Act Series (part 3): medical and health devices and data sharing obligations https://www.engage.hoganlovells.com/knowledgeservices/news/eu-data-act-series-part-3-medical-and-health-devices-and-data-sharing-obligations

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): At a Glance, 08/03/2023: Parliament's position on the data act https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2023)739387

Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE), 28/03/2023: Data Act: Towards a Balanced EU Data Regulation https://cerre.eu/publications/data-act-towards-a-balanced-eu-data-regulation/

Clifford Chance: Talking Tech Blog, 02/05/2023: The EU Data Act proposal: data access https://www.cliffordchance.com/insights/resources/blogs/talking-tech/en/articles/2023/05/the-eu-data-act-proposal-data-access.html

The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities: News, 08/05/2023: Data Act: EU co-legislators must ensure fair access to data for research purposes https://www.the-guild.eu/news/2023/data-act-eu-co-legislators-must-ensure-fair-access-to-data-for-research-purposes.html

Nature Journal: Nature Index, 09/05/2023: Proposed EU data laws leave researchers out in the cold https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01572-2

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 15/05/2023: The Data act https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)733681

Politico, 28/06/2023: Europe’s new data law, explained https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-new-data-act-explained/

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Analysis, 29/06/2023: The EU Data Act: The Long Arm of European Tech Regulation Continues https://www.csis.org/analysis/eu-data-act-long-arm-european-tech-regulation-continues

Hogan Lovells: Knowledge Services, 13/07/2023: EU Data Act (part 4): Final political agreement reached –data access vs. IP rights https://www.engage.hoganlovells.com/knowledgeservices/news/eu-data-act-part-4-final-political-agreement-reached-data-access-vs-ip-rights

Hogan Lovells: Knowledge Services, 07/09/2023: EU Data Act (part 5): smart cars and data sharing obligations – Q&A https://www.engage.hoganlovells.com/knowledgeservices/news/eu-data-act-part-5-smart-cars-and-data-sharing-obligations-qa

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): At a Glance, 06/11/2023: Data act: Adoption in plenary https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2023)754570

White & Case, 30/11/2023: The Data Act – the EU's bid to "ensure fairness in the digital environment and a competitive data market" – has been adopted https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/data-act-eus-bid-ensure-fairness-digital-environment-and-competitive-data-market-has

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News

EurActiv: Topics: Data Act https://www.euractiv.com/topics/data-act/

Politico, 23/02/2022: EU unveils industrial data rulebook https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-unveil-industrial-data-act-rulebook/

TechCrunch, 23/02/2022: Europe proposes rules for fair access to connected device data https://techcrunch.com/2022/02/23/eu-data-act/

The Wall Street Journal, 23/02/2022: Tech Giants to Be Forced to Share More Data Under EU Proposal https://www.wsj.com/articles/tech-giants-to-be-forced-to-share-more-data-under-eu-proposal-11645618258

Bloomberg, 23/02/2022: EU Unveils Rules to Force Firms to Share Product Usage Data https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-23/eu-unveils-rules-to-force-firms-to-hand-over-product-usage-data

Reuters, 23/02/2022: EU rules take aim at illegal data transfer to non-EU governments https://www.reuters.com/technology/eu-rules-take-aim-illegal-data-transfer-non-eu-governments-2022-02-23/

RTÉ News, 23/02/2022: EU rules take aim at illegal data transfer to non-EU governments https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2022/0223/1282523-eu-rules-on-data-transfers/

Reuters, 28/06/2023: EU countries, lawmakers reach data rule deal targeting Big Tech https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-countries-lawmakers-reach-deal-rules-governing-use-access-data-2023-06-27/

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Official

EUR-LEX: COM(2022)68: Proposal for a Regulation on harmonised rules on fair access to and use of data (Data Act) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2022:68:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)34: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:34:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)35: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:35:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on Data Act (2022/0047(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2022/0047(COD)

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: Data Act https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-a-europe-fit-for-the-digital-age/file-data-act

European Commission: Priorities 2019-2024: European data strategy https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/european-data-strategy_en

European Commission: Shaping Europe's Digital Future: Library: Data Act: Proposal for a Regulation on harmonised rules on fair access to and use of data https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/data-act-proposal-regulation-harmonised-rules-fair-access-and-use-data

European Commission: Press Release, 23/02/2022: Data Act: Commission proposes measures for a fair and innovative data economy https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_1113

European Commission: Data Act – Questions and Answers (23 February 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_22_1114

European Commission: Speech by Executive Vice-President Vestager on the Data Act (23 February 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_22_1312

EU EDPB: News, 05/05/2022: The EU’s Data Act: data protection must prevail to empower data subjects https://edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2022/eus-data-act-data-protection-must-prevail-empower-data-subjects_en

European Parliament: Press Release, 09/02/2023: Data Act: MEPs back new rules for fair access and use of industrial data https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230206IPR72113/

EPP EP Group: Newsroom, 01/03/2023: EU Data Act: Better use of data for people, businesses and emergencies https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/eu-data-act-better-use-of-data-for-people-businesses-and-emergencies

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 24/03/2023: Data act: member states agree common position on fair access to and use of data https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/03/24/data-act-member-states-agree-common-position-on-fair-access-to-and-use-of-data/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 27/06/2023: Data act: Council and Parliament strike a deal on fair access to and use of data https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/06/27/data-act-council-and-parliament-strike-a-deal-on-fair-access-to-and-use-of-data/

European Commission: Press Release, 28/06/2023: Data Act: Commission welcomes political agreement on rules for a fair and innovative data economy https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_3491

European Parliament: Press Release, 09/11/2023: Parliament backs plans for better access to, and use of, data https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20231106IPR09025/

Renew Europe EP Group: Newsroom, 09/11/2023: Adopted Data Act will be the cornerstone of a thriving European data economy https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2023-11-09/adopted-data-act-will-be-the-cornerstone-of-a-thriving-european-data-economy

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 27/11/2023: Data Act: Council adopts new law on fair access to and use of data https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/11/27/data-act-council-adopts-new-law-on-fair-access-to-and-use-of-data/

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