Joint industry statement on the Data Act calls to introduce 9 safeguards to ensure Chapter V preserves data holders’ fundamental rights

As representatives of European businesses, Independent Retail Europe, EuroCommerce, and EuroChambres, the signatories of this joint statement, express their deep concerns about Chapter V of the EU Data Act on how to organize mandatory Business-to-Government (B2G) data sharing. The signatories acknowledge that exceptional situations, and in particular unforeseeable emergency events, may require public authorities to use exceptional powers to obtain specific data held by private entities, which would enable them to remedy such crisis. However, Chapter V of the Data Act raises major concerns over its compatibility with the EU’s legal order and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. We therefore call on the EU institutions to introduce 9 safeguards to ensure Chapter V’s compatibility with the GDPR, the EU Charter of fundamental rights and key principles organising the rule of law.