European Commission confirms no delay to Data Act
The European Commission has confirmed that the Data Act will take effect on 12 September, rejecting industry calls for a two-year delay. The law regulates data sharing from connected devices and is seen as a key part of Europe’s digital strategy, though some companies warn it could slow AI innovation.
The European Commission has confirmed that the EU Data Act will enter into force as planned on 12 September, despite requests from major tech companies to delay its rollout by two years.
The Data Act, adopted under the previous EU mandate, sets out rules for how non-personal data generated by connected devices—such as smart home appliances, industrial machines, or sensors—can be accessed and shared. The goal is to give businesses and consumers more control over the data they create, while encouraging innovation and competition in Europe’s digital economy.
Industry concerns
In August, several companies and trade groups, including SAP, Siemens, Schneider Electric, Digital Europe, and eight national lobby associations, called for the law to be postponed. They argued that introducing the rules now could disrupt artificial intelligence (AI) development and slow down Europe’s push for ‘data-driven innovation.’
These groups also wanted the Commission to review the Data Act as part of its upcoming ‘digital omnibus’ initiative, which is meant to simplify and streamline EU technology laws.
Commission response
Tech Commissioner Henna Virkkunen rejected the calls for delay in a letter to Green MEP Damian Boeselager, one of the Parliament’s lead negotiators on the file. She stressed her commitment to ensuring a ‘smooth and effective rollout’ of the law on schedule.
Boeselager welcomed her response, posting on LinkedIn that it showed strong support for the Act. However, he also cautioned the Commission not to let industry lobbying efforts undermine the balance that lawmakers had already agreed during negotiations.
Why it matters
For the EU, the Data Act is a flagship digital law aimed at making sure valuable industrial data is not locked up by a handful of large companies but can be shared across sectors to fuel innovation, boost competition, and support AI systems in a fairer way.
For industry, however, the immediate concern is compliance: companies will have to adjust how they handle data generated by connected devices, which may involve significant costs and operational changes.
