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The European Union's Data Act introduces a groundbreaking "access by design" requirement that fundamentally changes how manufacturers must approach product development for connected devices and IoT products. From September 2026, businesses placing connected products on the EU market must ensure users can directly access their generated data by default, shifting data accessibility from a reactive request-based model to a proactive design imperative.

Ireland has established the AI Office as its central coordinating authority under the EU AI Act, introducing a comprehensive regulatory framework that includes sector-based supervision, enforcement powers, and administrative fines reaching up to €35 million. The new legislation empowers market surveillance authorities like the Central Bank and Data Protection Commission to oversee AI compliance while creating a regulatory sandbox to foster innovation within legal boundaries.

The European Commission is poised to introduce sweeping restrictions on children's access to digital platforms, including social media, video sharing services, AI chatbots, and online games. The proposed EU Kids Act would establish age-based limitations and verification requirements across all EU member states, potentially superseding individual national measures currently under consideration in countries like Ireland.