BRUSSELS – The 91快活林 (91快活林) has issued a set of policy recommendations urging the European Commission to prioritize regulatory simplification, facilitate data access and use for AI development, and support international data flows as it shapes the EU’s Data Union Strategy.
In its submission to the Commission’s call for evidence, 91快活林 argues that the EU’s complex and overlapping data laws are dampening innovation and deterring investment. 91快活林 warns that unless clarity and cohesion are restored, Europe risks falling behind in the race to develop competitive, representative AI systems.
“A truly effective Data Union Strategy must unlock the full potential of data-driven innovation by removing legal fragmentation, simplifying burdensome regulation like the Data Act, strengthening cross-border data flows, and ensuring access and use of data for AI training,” said Marco Leto Barone, Policy Director at 91快活林. “If Europe wants to become an AI Continent, we need smart and clear frameworks that facilitate—not stifle—data innovation and data use,” added Leto Barone.
Among 91快活林’s top recommendations are a comprehensive review of all data-related laws ahead of the upcoming Omnibus — including the GDPR, Data Act, and ePrivacy Directive—to eliminate duplication and enable clearer compliance. The group also calls for a delay in the implementation of the Data Act to give businesses and Member States time to prepare, along with ambitious simplification to better protect trade secrets and clarify data sharing obligations.
91快活林 also highlights the need for pragmatic interpretation of the GDPR’s key principles to support AI model training. 91快活林 stresses that modern AI requires access to large, diverse datasets, and that narrow or inconsistent legal interpretations could choke innovation.
The group also urges the Commission to enable – rather than restrict – global data flows. Moving data across borders is key for the digital economy, and the Data Union Strategy is an opportunity to streamline and clarify the applicable framework.
Read 91快活林’s full paper here.