The European Commission is exploring new legislative initiatives concerning business practices where customer data is used to increase revenues. To better understand current practices, their benefits, and potential challenges for businesses and stakeholders, the Commission has opened a consultation to investigate these areas.
Why Participate?
Enterprise Europe Brussels encourages companies to participate in this survey to ensure that any new regulations on data usage accurately reflect the realities of businesses. Your input can help shape policies that balance innovation with consumer protection. This is a valuable opportunity for your business to express your opinions and concerns about the use of customer data.
What Business Practices Are Being Explored?
Many businesses collect personal and non-personal data from their products and use this data for their own purposes, such as marketing, pricing, or generating revenue (including by selling data). The Commission is interested in two main types of business practices:
- The use of data contracts: This happens when customers agree to provide their personal data in exchange for not paying or for a discount. This is typically done for a digital service or content: for example, users may receive free access to websites in exchange of providing data through cookies, or enjoy lower fees for accepting personalized advertisements.
- The use of product data: Some businesses generate revenue by using data collected from products, such as through advertising. They can sell products like smart watches or connected cars at a standard price, but then use personal or non-personal data generated by the use of the product for various commercial or non-commercial purposes.
Who should respond to the consultation?
This consultation is aimed at companies that utilize customer data in these ways, especially manufacturers of connected products or providers of digital content or digital services.
We invite you to respond to this consultation by 16 September to make your views known. The survey is short and simple; it will take about 5 minutes of your time
