Access to data has become a central legal and economic challenge in the data-driven economy. One year after the EU Data Act entered into force, the promise of greater data availability and fair access is being put to the test. The Act, together with the Data Governance Act and other emerging international frameworks, aims to break down barriers to data use, reduce data-driven lock-in effects, and enable a more balanced distribution of data value across stakeholders.

This session will examine how the right of access to IoT data, the sharing obligations for private and public entities, and the introduction of Model Contractual Terms and Standard Contractual Clauses are reshaping the legal architecture of the digital economy. Are these new mechanisms truly empowering users, SMEs, and public bodies to access and reuse data? How are businesses adapting their data governance models and contractual strategies to comply while remaining competitive globally?

Drawing on the first year of practical experience, legal experts and policymakers will discuss whether the EU’s approach to data access is setting a global standard — and will also conduct a deep dive on the Model Contractual Terms and the Standard Contractual Clauses.