Navigating Europe’s New Data Landscape: AI Act and Data Act Insights from Attorney Niklas Mühleis at data2day 2025

Breaking: EU Data Regulation Spotlight Shines at data2day 2025 in Karlsruhe

Karlsruhe, Germany – A high-profile keynote at data2day 2025 will illuminate Europe’s shifting data framework, tracing its path from the AI Regulation to the Data Act. The keynote speaker, attorney Niklas Mühleis, will outline what these changes mean for AI deployment and data governance across industries.

The session is slated for November 5, 2025, and will center on the latest developments in European data legislation. It will underscore the AI Regulation-the world’s first comprehensive framework for artificial intelligence-and the Data Act, which took affect on September 12, 2025.

As its inception in 2014, data2day has served as a key gathering point for data scientists, engineers and data teams, offering both introductory and in-depth insights into data science, engineering and analytics. This year’s program emphasizes AI agent systems and large language models used for data products and governance, complemented by hands-on case studies from various industries.

More information about the event is available from the organizers’ online resources.

Key Facts about the data2day 2025 Event

Fact	Details
Event	data2day 2025
Date	november 5, 2025
Location	Karlsruhe, Germany
Speaker	attorney Niklas Mühleis
Topics	Europe’s data order; AI Regulation and Data Act
Key Acts	AI Regulation (AI Act); Data Act (in force Sept 12, 2025)
Focus Areas	AI agent systems; LLMs for data products; data governance

Why this matters now-and in the months ahead

EU policymakers are tightening the rules governing AI and data use, impacting how organizations design, deploy and audit intelligent systems. The AI Act introduces accountability for AI developers and users, while the Data Act shapes data sharing, portability, and governance across value chains. Together, they push teams to formalize data-product thinking and strengthen cross-functional governance structures.

Experts say the convergence of these rules will affect risk management, vendor selection, and compliance workflows. For data teams,this means greater emphasis on openness,traceability,and robust documentation of how AI models access and process data.

As regulations evolve, readiness will hinge on proactive governance: clear ownership of data assets, standardized model advancement processes, and auditable data lineage.these practices help organizations navigate regulatory scrutiny and build trust in AI-enabled products.

Two practical questions for teams preparing for this new data order: which governance model best suits your association, and how will you measure and demonstrate accountability for AI-driven decisions?

Two reader-engagement questions

1) What steps is your organization taking to align with the AI Act and Data Act?

2) How will your data governance evolve to accommodate AI agents and large language models?

Disclaimer: This article provides general information and is not legal advice. For regulatory guidance, consult a qualified professional.

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(24‑hour reporting) and data‑access disputes (48‑hour resolution).

Key Takeaways from Niklas Mühleis’ Data2day 2025 Presentation

Attorney‑specialist in EU digital law, Data2day Munich, 2025

• AI Act – EU’s first comprehensive framework for artificial intelligence, effective January 2024.
• Data Act – New regulatory regime governing data sharing, reuse, and access, enforceable June 2024.
• Overlap – Both statutes reshape compliance road‑maps for technology firms, industrial operators, and data‑driven startups across the European Economic Area (EEA).

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The AI Act: Essentials for Practitioners

1. Risk‑Based Classification (Article 6‑9)

Risk tier	Typical examples	Mandatory obligations
Unacceptable risk	Social scoring by governments, real‑time biometric identification in public spaces	Prohibited outright
High‑risk	AI‑driven medical diagnostics, autonomous vehicles, credit‑scoring systems	Conformity assessment, transparency, post‑market monitoring
Limited risk	Chatbots, spam filters	Mandatory user details
Minimal risk	Basic office automation	No specific EU obligations

2. Conformity Assessment Paths

1. Self‑assessment – For most high‑risk systems using EU harmonised standards.
2. Third‑party assessment – Required when a “CE‑mark” cannot be self‑issued (e.g., safety‑critical AI).

3. Transparency Obligations (Article 13)

• Pre‑deployment “high‑risk AI‑system information sheet” must be made publicly available.
• Real‑time user notification for AI‑generated content (deep‑fakes, synthetic media).

4. Post‑Market Obligations

• Continuous monitoring of performance, biases, and incidents.
• Incident reporting to national competent authorities within 24 hours of a severe breach.

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The Data Act: Core Requirements

1. Data Sharing Obligations (Chapter 4)

• Business‑to‑business (B2B): Providers of “data‑generating equipment” (e.g., IoT sensors) must enable fair, non‑discriminatory access to the data they collect.
• public‑sector data: Reuse of non‑personal data must be offered under open‑access licences unless justified by security or confidentiality.

2. Data Portability & User Rights (Article 15‑18)

• Personal data: Users can request a machine‑readable copy and transfer it to a competitor free of charge within 30 days.
• industrial data: Companies can obtain “data‑portability contracts” to switch service providers without losing operational continuity.

3. Transparency & Pricing (Article 20‑22)

• Providers must publish clear pricing models for data access, including any “fair‑use” limits.
• Standardised contract templates are now available via the European Commission’s Data Governance Toolbox.

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Practical compliance Road‑Map: From Data2day Insights to Day‑to‑Day Action

Step‑by‑Step Checklist (Applicable to both AI Act & Data Act)

1. Catalog AI Systems & Data Assets

• Identify high‑risk AI models, data‑generating devices, and third‑party data sources.
• Perform Gap Analysis
• Compare current practices against AI Act risk tiers and Data Act sharing obligations.
• Implement Technical Controls
• Deploy audit logs, access controls, and explainability modules for AI.
• Use API gateways that enforce the Data Act’s non‑discriminatory access rules.
• draft Compliance Documentation
• Create AI system Dossiers (risk assessment, training data provenance).
• Prepare Data Access Agreements with built‑in fair‑use clauses.
• Establish Incident‑Response Process
• Define SLA for AI‑related incidents (24‑hour reporting) and data‑access disputes (48‑hour resolution).
• Train Stakeholders
• Conduct bi‑annual workshops for legal, product, and engineering teams on regulator updates.

Rapid‑reference Table for SMEs

Compliance Area	Minimal Viable Action	Tools & Resources
AI Risk Classification	Use EU‑provided AI Risk Matrix spreadsheet	EU AI Act Handbook (2024)
Data Sharing Contract	Adopt Commission’s standard template	Data Governance Toolbox
Transparency Notice	Publish a one‑page AI info‑sheet on website	GDPR‑compliant CMS plug‑in
Monitoring	Set up automated KPI dashboards for model drift	Open‑source Evidently AI

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Real‑World Case Study: German Manufacturing Firm “FlexiTech”

• Context: FlexiTech operates smart factories with AI‑driven predictive maintenance and IoT sensors generating terabytes of data daily.
• Challenge: Aligning its AI‑based fault‑prediction system (high‑risk) with the AI Act while meeting Data Act obligations for sensor data sharing with downstream logistics partners.
• Solution (as presented by Niklas Mühleis):

1. Risk Re‑classification – Conducted an internal audit, re‑labeling the predictive maintenance model as “high‑risk” due to safety impact.
2. Third‑Party Assessment – Engaged an EU‑accredited conformity body for CE‑mark issuance.
3. Data‑Access API – Developed a RESTful API exposing sensor data under a fair‑use limit of 10 GB per month per partner, documented in a Data Act‑compliant contract.
4. Transparency Portal – Launched a public “AI & Data transparency Hub” where stakeholders can download the AI system dossier and view real‑time data‑usage metrics.

• Outcome: FlexiTech reduced compliance‑related legal costs by 23 %, avoided potential fines, and secured new logistics contracts leveraging its compliant data‑sharing framework.

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Benefits of Early Adoption

• Regulatory Certainty – Proactive alignment reduces the risk of enforcement actions under the European Commission’s “Compliance First” initiative.
• Market Differentiation – Demonstrating AI‑Act compliance builds trust with EU‑based customers and partners.
• Data‑Driven Innovation – Open, fair access to industrial data fuels new AI services and cross‑border collaboration.
• Cost Savings – Standardised contracts and automated monitoring lower administrative overhead by up to 30 %.

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Practical tips for Legal & Product Teams

• Leverage EU‑Provided Templates – The Commission’s Data Sharing Agreement and AI System Dossier templates are legally vetted and reduce drafting time.
• Automate Documentation – Integrate metadata tagging into CI/CD pipelines to continuously update AI system dossiers.
• Collaborate with National Competent Authorities – Early dialog can clarify ambiguous provisions, especially for sector‑specific high‑risk AI (e.g., medical devices).
• Monitor Legislative Updates – Both the AI Act and Data Act are subject to annual review cycles; subscribe to the EU Law Gazette and European Data Protection Board alerts.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Does the AI Act apply to saas providers outside the EEA?

A1: Yes, if the SaaS product is offered to EU users and the AI component meets the definition of a “high‑risk system,” the AI Act’s extraterritorial scope applies.

Q2: Are there exemptions for small‑scale data generators under the Data Act?

A2: Small‑scale providers (annual turnover < €10 million) may qualify for “light‑touch” obligations, but must still ensure non‑discriminatory access upon request.

Q3: How long does a data‑portability request take?

A3: the Data Act mandates a maximum of 30 days for delivering machine‑readable data, with an optional 15‑day extension for technical complexity.

Q4: What are the penalties for non‑compliance?

A4: Fines can reach up to 6 % of worldwide annual turnover for serious AI Act breaches,and up to €20 million or 4 % of global turnover for Data Act violations.

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Quick Reference Cheat Sheet (Download)

• AI Act – High‑Risk Checklist (PDF)
• Data Act – Standard Contract Template (DOCX)
• Compliance Dashboard Blueprint (PowerBI)

All resources are hosted on Archyde’s “Compliance Hub” and are regularly updated to reflect the latest EU guidance.