BEUC NEWS - 7 April 2025

As discussions on the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement (DTA) continue, BEUC has teamed up with  ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation), and EDRi (European Digital Rights) shed a light on the potential privacy risks the agreement poses to consumer rights, workers’ protections, and broader fundamental rights.

While it is clear the EU’s objective is to foster global trade partnerships, the three organisations stress the importance of designing such new deals with people’s interests at their core. 

The current text of the DTA introduces loopholes, particularly regarding access to source code and data flows, that could undermine privacy, algorithmic transparency, and regulatory oversight. Furthermore, this could hinder the enforcement of digital laws such as the AI Act. This is not merely a theoretical concern: the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) has echoed similar warnings in its recent opinion.

We encourage you to view our joint statement and video on this particular issue.

We do not consider this agreement a viable model for future digital trade deals. Looking ahead, we call on the European Commission and policymakers to adopt a more cautious approach that ensures:

• Robust protections for fundamental and labour rights
• Easy regulatory oversight of AI and software-based systems
• Full transparency and meaningful engagement with social partners and civil society

Background

BEUC’s EU-Singapore digital trade agreement: Key points for consumers