· Luca Moretti
EU Data Act: from 12 September 2026, products must hand users their data
The Data Act has applied since September 2025. From this month, new connected products must be designed so users can reach their own data directly.
Regulation (EU) 2023/2854, the Data Act, has applied since 12 September 2025. Its core idea: the person who uses a connected product can get the data that product generates, and can pass it on to a service of their choice.
What changed this month
From 12 September 2026, products placed on the EU market must be designed so that users can access their data directly. Access by request is no longer enough for new products; it has to be built in.
Who should look at this
- Makers of connected devices and the apps that run them.
- Software companies whose product sits on top of such devices.
- Businesses that buy connected equipment and want their own data back.
For a small maker the practical work is an export: a documented, machine-readable way for the user to download or forward their data, plus a page that explains it.