Tuesday

3rd Oct 2023

EU unveils new data rules, including 'data-altruism' clause

  • Under the new rules, individuals or companies can give consent for 'data altruism' in order to share the data they generate for the common good, voluntarily and free of charge (Photo: Bob Mical)

The European Commission on Wednesday (25 November) unveiled new rules for data-governance aimed at boosting data in Europe by facilitating sharing and a so-called 'data altruism' - in a bid to compete with its Asian and American counterparts.

"With the ever-growing role of industrial data in our economy, Europe needs an open yet sovereign single market for data," said commissioner for the internal market, Thierry Breton.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

"For data to circulate, we need [people] to have confidence," he added.

The regulation, the Data Governance Act, is the first initiative under the European Strategy for Data - a proposal presented earlier this year aimed at unlocking the potential of big data, and new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Data is considered the 'fuel' for machine-learning - the branch of AI based on the ability to automatically learn and adapt to new data without human interference.

In the next years, the volume of data produced worldwide is expected to grow massively, from 33 zettabytes in 2018 to an expected 175 zettabytes in 2025. A zettabyte is one sextillion bytes, or 10 to the power 21.

The new rules will allow businesses and research organisations to tap the potential of such vast data volumes, paving the way for the creation of the nine 'sectorial European data spaces, presented in February, such as energy, public administration or mobility.

Brussels hopes that these spaces will enable data-driven solutions and innovations, such as personalised health treatments, new mobility methods or precision-farming techniques.

The rules also take into consideration EU rules for data protection (GDPR), given personal data also falls within the scope of this regulation.

The Data Governance Act offers an alternative model to the data-handling practices of the 'Big Tech' platforms, whose power over the market is directly related to their business models based on the control of large amounts of data, the commission said.

'Not for own benefit'

This approach relies on providers of data-sharing services, so-called "data intermediaries", which would organise data-sharing or pooling across sectors and member states, to increase trust.

To ensure their neutrality, they will not be able to use the data for their own benefit, for example, by selling it to another company, or using it to develop a product based on this data.

If the data intermediary is not located in the EU, a representative should be appointed to be in charge of legal procedures.

Additionally, the commission is proposing a mechanism to allow the reuse of public-sector data, which is typically "sensitive" on grounds of data protection, intellectual property or commercial confidentiality, for commercial or non-commercial proposes.

However, the right to reuse such data should not exceed a three-year contract.

Public sector bodies are not obliged to allow the reuse of data, but those allowing this type of reuse would need to be technically equipped to ensure such data protection.

Moreover, there will be certain conditions attached to the level of sensitivity of data that will be reused.

For instance, public authorities may impose an obligation to anonymise or pseudonymise personal data or delete commercially-confidential information, including trade secrets.

'Data-altruism'?

Under the new rules, individuals or companies can give consent for so-called "data altruism", in order to share the data they generate for the common good, voluntarily and free of charge.

Given that the EU has suffered from a competitive disadvantage in data-access during the first wave of digital innovations, such as social media or online shopping, the EU is now preparing for the second wave of industrial data in order to compete with the US and China.

"The battle for industrial data is starting now and the battlefield may be Europe so we need to get ready, and that is my objective," commissioner Breton said earlier this week in a webinar.

Brussels said that the new measures could increase the annual worth of data-sharing by up to €7-€11bn by 2028.

US firms ignoring EU court ruling on data, Schrems warns

Facebook and other big US firms have no intention of respecting the landmark ruling by the EU's highest court on data transfers to the US. The court in July dramatically scrapped Privacy Shield, citing US surveillance concerns.

Podcast

Data and Dystopia

Despite concerns about civil liberties and activities of companies like Clearview AI and Palantir, EU authorities are shaping a new industrial policy around artificial intelligence.

Agenda

Green acts and data flow in focus This WEEK

Economic ministers set to talk about the reform of the economic governance and even agree on conclusions. The EU Commission is also expected to come with several proposals on supporting the greening of the economy.

Opinion

Google, Fitbit, and a big decision for EU Commission

In the coming days the European Commission seems poised to green-light the acquisition of Fitbit by Google. The deal is a major threat to human rights and must be stopped in its tracks.

AI will destroy more female jobs than male, study finds

About four percent of global female employment is subject to potential automation through generative AI technologies, compared to only 1.4 percent of male employment. The trend is even more pronounced in high-income countries, a new study reveals.

Column

EU lobbying clean-up — what happened to that?

Six months after Qatargate, as institutional inertia and parliamentary privileges weigh in, the sense of gravity and collective resolve have all but disappeared. MEPs show little enthusiasm for reform of the rules that today allow them significant outside paid activities.

Latest News

  1. Northern Europe — the new Nato/Russia frontline
  2. The EU-Kenya free trade deal shows a waning 'Brussels effect'
  3. Hoekstra pledges to phase-out fossil fuel subsidies
  4. 10 years on from the Lampedusa shipwreck — what's changed?
  5. EU ministers go to Kyiv to downplay fears on US, Slovak aid
  6. Hoekstra faces tough questioning to be EU Green chief
  7. Frontex shared personal data of NGO staff with Europol six times
  8. Why EU Commission dumped Google's favourite consultant

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  2. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators, industry & healthcare experts at the 24th IMDRF session, September 25-26, Berlin. Register by 20 Sept to join in person or online.
  3. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  4. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  5. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators & industry experts at the 24th IMDRF session- Berlin September 25-26. Register early for discounted hotel rates
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations
  2. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  3. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  4. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us