21/03/2023 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 20 March, the Confederation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (CPME) voiced its concern that the position of Member States would end up undermining data sharing between companies under the forthcoming ‘Data Act’ (see EUROPE 13142/18). “While the CPME strongly supports the protection of business secrets or company know-how, it believes that this legitimate protection should not be transformed into a right of veto. If the large companies holding the data systematically refused to share it, this would lead to the creation of monopolies for their sole benefit”, detailed the CPME. “The Data Act must not become a tool to prevent access to data. On the contrary, it should promote their sharing and reuse for the benefit of all”, they added. (TM)