Over the past weeks there have been calls from across the Atlantic to unwind, water-down or simply remove key elements of Europe’s digital regulation such as the Data Act entering into force this September 12th. There are some cloud cowboys who claim that this regulation is protectionist, unfair and inhibits Europe’s ability to compete. CISPE holds a different view.
Next week, the Data Act will take effect after a year of preparation. It is not perfect, but it is an essential regulation that empowers European cloud providers to compete while freeing customers from lock-in. It creates a fair playing field for all actors, with clear measures to stimulate innovation and competition in Europe’s cloud market. Most importantly, it puts customers’ interests first.
While excessive red tape can stifle agility and innovation, the Data Act strikes a balance. It is good regulation – even if not flawless. At CISPE, we have always sought robust but constructive dialogue with policymakers to ensure that the views of European cloud infrastructure providers are heard, and their concerns addressed. Once regulation is enacted, we work hard to translate it into practice by developing tools, frameworks, and codes of conduct that help cloud providers – and their customers – comply with confidence.
We do this because trust is the foundation of the cloud. Companies and individuals will not entrust their most sensitive data and critical processes without clear guardrails that guarantee they are not locked into a single provider. Regulation prevents a ‘Wild West’ that erodes trust, ensuring instead that customers retain the freedom to choose the best services without fear of being held hostage by one vendor.
Europe has always led the way on sensible, balanced and relevant regulation. Its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) set the framework for the treatment of personal data that helped people become comfortable with sharing their information online. Without it, it’s unlikely we’d have the panoply of cloud services we use today.
There must be no delay in the implementation of the Data Act. Many organisations have already invested significant time and resources to ensure their cloud services meet its requirements. CISPE’s Cloud Switching Framework enables European providers to comply, while our support and investment in innovative federated cloud initiatives such as Fulcrum show that the Data Act is fully aligned with the nature of cloud computing. These efforts prove its effectiveness as a foundation for future-focused, competitive, and sovereign European cloud services.
Regulation can sometimes be challenging, and rarely perfect. But without it, how do you stop the cowboys from treating rules like fences to be broken? The honest cloud players of CISPE see these rules not as obstacles, but as guardrails that protect the herd and ensure trust, freedom, and sustainable growth.