Overview

• The law became applicable on 12 September 2025 after taking legal effect on 11 January 2024, triggering new obligations for connected products and data services offered in the EU.
• Users must be able to retrieve raw usage data, including necessary metadata, at no charge and in a secure manner, and may direct providers to share that data with third parties.
• Any product placed on the EU market after 12 September 2026 must be designed to give users direct access to its raw usage data.
• Data‑processing service customers gain switching rights with clear information, a notice period capped at two months, removal of technical and contractual barriers, interoperability measures, and a ban on switching fees from 12 January 2027.
• B2B contracts face new unfair‑terms restrictions, national regulators will enforce compliance, and the European Commission has issued vehicle data guidance and plans a Data Act Legal Helpdesk.