The European Parliament has revealed that new EU legislation regarding non-personal data could save European businesses significant amounts each year.
A draft proposal currently being considered by Parliament “aims to remove geographical restrictions on the storage and processing of non-personal data” and would “allow businesses and public administrations to store and process non-personal data anywhere in the EU.”
According to the Parliament, the current rules and restrictions governing the movement of data “cost EU businesses billions of euros every year”; but with the new legislation, “restrictions would only be justified on the basis of public security.”
The MEP responsible for “steering the new legislation through Parliament” is the Swedish EPP member, Anna Maria Corazza Bildt.
“This regulation is truly a game changer for the digital economy in Europe, potentially providing enormous efficiency gains for both companies and public authorities,” she said. “It will pave the way for artificial intelligence, cloud computing and big data analysis.”
Corazza Bildt went on: “It is a major step towards reducing data protectionism which is threatening the digital economy. My goal is to have rules that are clear, net neutral and future-proof.”
Draft rules for the new legislation were approved by the internal market committee on 4 June 2018, and it will put to a general MEP vote during the Parliament’s plenary session this month. Once the mandate has been adopted, the Parliament explains, “negotiations can start with the Council and the European Commission on the final text of the regulation.”
