Taking Your Data with You – Portability, the DMA and Open Formats

Imagine moving house and simply being able to take your furniture with you. That's how it should be with your data too: when you switch providers, your files, calendar and contacts just come along. That's exactly what data portability is about. The EU is strengthening this principle with several rules – and with open formats, you can do a lot yourself.

What is data portability?

Data portability means you get your data in a common, machine-readable format and can take it to another service. For personal data, the GDPR has given everyone this right since 2018.

Which EU rules help?

With the DMA, the European Commission is also looking into whether and how large cloud services fall within its scope. How that turns out remains to be seen. But the direction is clear: data should become easier to move.

A few terms, briefly explained

• Gatekeeper: The DMA's term for very large platforms with major market significance.
• Interoperability: Different programs and services can work together.
• Open formats: File formats whose structure is publicly documented, so many programs can read them.

What you can do yourself

Rules help, but you get the most freedom with open formats and standards. A few examples:

With these standards, you can swap not only providers but also individual programs – without a big moving mess.

A small portability check

1. Find export functions: Where can you download your data for each service?
2. Try it once: Do a complete export and take a look.
3. Choose open formats: Use open standards wherever possible.
4. Repeat regularly: Once a year, ideally together with your backup check.

You'll find an overview of open alternatives under Alternatives.

An everyday example

A small online retailer has been using various cloud services for years. He runs the portability check and finds:

Almost everything can be taken along easily. Only the notes app makes it hard. So the retailer moves his notes to Nextcloud Notes, where they're stored as simple text files. That makes this area easily portable in future too.

Frequently asked questions

Can I demand an export from any provider? For personal data, the GDPR gives you a right to data portability. Beyond that, most services offer export functions. If needed, clarify what exactly applies in your case with a legal adviser.

What do I do with exported data? Keep it encrypted, for example together with your backups. That way you always have an independent copy.

Are open formats worse than proprietary ones? No. Open formats like ODF, ICS or vCard are mature and supported by a great many programs.

Conclusion

Step by step, the EU is making it easier to take your data with you. But you have the most freedom if you rely on open formats and open-source software from the start. Then moving isn't a project – it's almost routine. If you'd like support, have a look at Consulting.

If you'd like to give it a try, I'm happy to help – just drop me a line.