What is the difference between the Data Act and the Data Governance Act?
The Data Act creates data-access and switching rights; the Data Governance Act creates trusted data-sharing governance structures.
Data Act vs Data Governance Act: The Data Act is about access to and use of data, especially connected-product data; the Data Governance Act is about governance models for trusted data sharing, intermediation and altruism. Sources: EUR-Lex: Data Act; EUR-Lex: Data Governance Act.
The short version
The Data Act creates substantive access, sharing and switching rules. The Data Governance Act sets institutional and trust rules for data intermediaries, altruism and protected public-sector data reuse.
Side by side
Regulation
Data Act
Data Act
- What it is
- The Data Act sets rules on access to and use of data, especially connected-product data and related services.
- Scope
- Data generated by connected products and related services, data-sharing obligations, unfair contract terms, public-sector access requests and cloud switching.
- Who it applies to
- Manufacturers, data holders, users, data recipients, cloud/data-processing service providers and public-sector bodies in specified cases.
- Key dates
- Entered into force in 2024.
- Most rules apply from September 2025, with some later phase-ins.
- Core obligations
- Design connected products and services to make data accessible where required.
- Share data with users and third parties under the act's conditions.
- Remove switching obstacles for data-processing services under the timetable.
- Penalties
- Member States must lay down penalties for infringements; the act also coordinates with GDPR for personal-data issues.
Regulation
Data Governance Act
Data Governance Act
- What it is
- The Data Governance Act creates governance structures for trusted data sharing, data intermediation, data altruism and reuse of certain protected public-sector data.
- Scope
- Reuse of protected public-sector data, data intermediation services, data altruism organisations and European data governance coordination.
- Who it applies to
- Public-sector bodies, data intermediation service providers, recognised data altruism organisations and data users in covered arrangements.
- Key dates
- Entered into force in 2022.
- Applies from 24 September 2023.
- Core obligations
- Follow conditions for reusing protected public-sector data.
- Notify and comply with neutrality duties for data intermediation services.
- Meet registration and transparency requirements for recognised data altruism organisations.
- Penalties
- Member States must set penalties for infringements of the Data Governance Act's covered obligations.
Which applies to you?
If you make connected products, hold user-generated data or provide cloud/data-processing services, check the Data Act. If you run a data intermediation or altruism model, check the Data Governance Act.
Frequently asked
Are the Data Act and Data Governance Act the same?
No. They are complementary parts of the EU data strategy, but they regulate different problems.
Which law covers connected product data?
The Data Act is the main comparison point for connected-product and related-service data access.
Which law covers data intermediation services?
The Data Governance Act sets rules for data intermediation services and recognised data altruism organisations.
Official sources
Comparisons are grounded explainers, not legal advice. Use the linked EUR-Lex texts and official sources for binding legal wording.
Related terms
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