Data is the critical resource of the digital age. As data is an inextricable part of virtually all digital technologies, Europe’s approach to data governance will largely affect EU digital priorities.
The way data is managed, stored and processed in compliance with data protection law will be a defining point for the development of cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and cloud computing. Data flows have become the underlying layer of international trade, with economically devastating effects when they are restricted.
The AI Act and Data Governance Act currently under discussion will play a key role in defining data governance in the EU. The COVID pandemic has highlighted in particular the need to exploit the untapped potential of European data spaces in managing health emergencies and fostering health research.
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Report: Europe may lose €2 trillion in 10 years if uncertainty over data transfers continues
Restricting data flows in Europe might lead to economic damage worth €2 trillion by 2030, roughly the size of Italy’s economy, and result in two million fewer new jobs, a new industry study has warned.
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The untapped potential of data-driven healthcare
The COVID pandemic has been a wakeup call on the need to share healthcare data in a commonly usable format. The European Health Data Space would boost health research and underpin the development of personalized medical treatments, says Padraic Ward.
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Why the impasse on data flows threatens Europe’s digital recovery
Most people’s image of world trade will be a huge container ship similar to the one that was recently stuck in the Suez canal, full of cars, clothes and other goods. However, the modern global economy increasingly runs on huge …