European Parliament approves EPP-led data law

The European Parliament today approved its position on new rules on the access and use of data collected by connected machines, modern household appliances or industrial robots.

The so-called "Data Act", fundamentally shaped by EPP Group Member and Parliament's lead negotiator Pilar Del Castillo MEP, will provide much needed legal certainty on who owns data that currently is mostly unused. The new rules concern connected machines and appliances which collect enormous amounts of data, be it mobile phones, industrial robots or even washing machines. Until now, harmonised rules on how this data is accessed and used have been lacking. The EU Data Act aims to close this legal gap.

"The Data Act is an opportunity to optimise existing business models and processes, boost the development of new ones, create new value, structures and partner networks. In other words, an immense opportunity for competitiveness and innovation. It will change how we interact and use data", Del Castillo said.

"For the EPP Group, our fundamental principle is: the user must have access to data produced by connected products and be able to share it. At the same time, it is vital that liability and transparency provisions ensure that intellectual property rights and trade secrets are respected. This law will be game-changing and create a new data-agile ecosystem that enables easy access to an almost infinite amount of high-quality data", Del Castillo added.

After today's vote, Member States are expected to agree on their position on 28 March. A first "trilogue" for negotiations between Parliament and Member States to finalise the Data Act is foreseen for 29 March.