New Data Portability Laws Could End Vendor Lock-In Nightmares

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-30

Imagine you've built your startup on a particular cloud provider. You've stored terabytes of customer data, trained your team on their tools, and integrated their services deep into your workflows. Then one day, they hike their prices or change their terms. You want to leave, but you can't—your data is trapped. That's vendor lock-in, and it's a growing headache for businesses across Europe, including many US companies operating there. Now, Ed Accura, a prominent voice in the tech policy space, is urging UK lawmakers to tackle this problem head-on. He's calling for new laws that would give businesses enforceable data portability rights, covering both cloud and on-premises storage. In plain English: you should be able to pack up your data and move to another provider without jumping through impossible hoops. ### Why Vendor Lock-In Is a Silent Business Killer Vendor lock-in isn't just annoying—it's expensive. When you're stuck with a provider, you lose bargaining power. They can raise prices, and you have little choice but to pay. You also miss out on innovation because switching costs are too high. For startups, this can be fatal. Imagine being locked into a platform that suddenly pivots away from your needs, and you can't afford the migration. Accura's proposal aims to change that by making data portability a legal right. That means providers would have to offer standard, machine-readable formats and clear processes for exporting data. No more proprietary formats that only work with their tools. No more vague promises of "data liberation" that never materialize. ### What Would Enforceable Data Portability Look Like? Under the proposed rules, businesses would have the right to: - Export all their data in a commonly used, machine-readable format. - Receive the data within a reasonable timeframe (say, 30 days). - Get it without paying exorbitant fees. - Have the same rights whether the data is in the cloud or on-premises. This isn't just about convenience—it's about fairness. As Accura puts it, "Data portability should be a fundamental right for businesses, not a luxury." ### The Impact on Startups and the Broader Economy For startups, the ability to switch providers easily could be a game-changer. It would lower barriers to entry and encourage competition. Providers would have to compete on price and service rather than trapping customers. That's good for innovation and good for the economy. But it's not just about startups. Larger companies also suffer from lock-in, often paying millions to stay on legacy systems because migrating is too risky. Enforceable portability would give them leverage to negotiate better deals or move to more modern platforms. ### Challenges and Next Steps Of course, implementing such laws isn't simple. Providers argue that data portability can be technically challenging, especially for complex systems. There are also concerns about security and privacy during transfers. But these are solvable problems with the right standards and oversight. Accura's push comes as the EU is also considering similar measures. The EU Inc proposal, which aims to harmonize corporate laws across member states, could include provisions for data portability. If the UK moves first, it could set a precedent for others to follow. For now, the ball is in the UK government's court. Will they listen to Accura and introduce these laws? Only time will tell. But one thing's clear: businesses are tired of being locked in. They want freedom to choose, and they want it now. If you're running a startup, this is a development worth watching. It could change how you think about your data—and your leverage with vendors.