EU Data Act
The EU regulation on access to data from connected products and on switching cloud providers, applying since September 12, 2025.
The Data Act gives users of connected products and related services a right to the data they generate and to share it with third parties. For cloud and SaaS it requires that customers can switch provider or move data in-house, with a notice period and exportable data; until January 12, 2027 providers may charge only the direct cost of switching, including data egress, and after that switching charges end. It also bans unfair data-sharing terms imposed on businesses.
Related terms
- Data residency (AI and cloud): Where your data is stored and processed, including where an AI model runs on it, and whether it can leave a region such as the EU.
- GDPR: The EU regulation on personal data: lawful basis, minimal data, user rights and breach reporting, for anyone handling EU residents’ data.
- Build vs buy: The choice between paying for a ready-made product and building your own software, including what each costs over time.
- Knowledge transfer and exit plan (handover): Handing a system from the vendor to the buyer or a new team: code, access, documentation, runbooks and time with the people who built it.
