The European Commission’s move to create a single market for data has been welcomed by the continent’s insurers, but with calls for key elements of the proposal to be improved.
The proposal for an EU Data Act aims to give individuals and businesses more control over their data. Insurance Europe said the proposed reinforcement of data portability rights will benefit consumers and enable insurers to develop innovative digital services.
The group also welcomed moves to prevent gatekeepers from accessing data generated by users through their connected products, as well the prohibition on third parties developing competent products based on the data they receive. It said this is “a step in the right direction towards achieving a level playing field in the data economy”.
However, Insurance Europe called for the Data Act’s provisions to ensure a more level playing field between “players of all sizes”. It said that data portability rights should prohibit the data holder from making it cumbersome or effectively impractical for the user to request that the data be shared with third parties. It also wants to see the Data Act and the General Data Protection Regulation, while government access to data should be more strictly defined.
