With iCloud, users can only move their data from their local storage and shift it to Apple’s cloud-based one, but according to the latest EU law, there will be tons of flexibility on how that data is moved. Assuming the law gets approved, users can transfer their iCloud data to other services such as Google Drive or OneDrive.
EU believes that the new legislation will give users more control over their data and how they wish to transfer it
Though the European Commission proposed the legislation in 2022, the ‘Data Act’ is only getting traction now, with an agreement that was reached after talks that lasted for seven hours, according to Reuters. The EU’s concerns regarding data transfers have risen after Edward Snowden became a whistleblower back in 2013, pulling the lid off of mass U.S. surveillance.
The EU states that the Data Act will give businesses and individuals more control over their data and how they wish to transfer it across different services and not have it just limited to iCloud. The new law will also introduce several new safety measures, such as protecting against unlawful data transfer by cloud service companies and the possibility of developing interoperability between different cloud services.
Lawmaker Damian Boeselager finds some concern in the law but believes that the country’s national authority can review and annul this decision in a timely manner. However, not everyone was pleased, with the Lobbying group The Information Technology Industry Council, or ITI, believing that the Data Act has an ‘ambiguous approach to data sharing.’ Another concern revolved around the protection of trade secrets, which will be potentially impossible if data can be conveniently shared across multiple services.
With the Data Act said to target Apple’s iCloud service, the EU has passed previous legislation that will force the California-based firm and its competitors to change the smartphone’s design and their charging ports. For instance, the EU wants easily replaceable batteries in various handheld devices, including smartphones and tablets, along with the ability to allow Apple to support the sideloading of apps. Last but not least, the EU wants USB-C to become a ubiquitous port, but whether readers agree with these legislations or not, the change will only be followed in regions that fall under the European Union.
News Source: Reuters
