From your Smart Watch to the Metaverse

This article investigates the definitional underpinnings of the EU Data Act (DA), specifically the concepts of “data”, “connected product”, and “related service”, to reveal how they structure the Act’s legal reach and reflect evolving policy priorities. Through analysis of the DA’s legislative journey from Commission proposal to its final form, the article shows how the definitional scope in EU technology regulation is shaped by technological developments, institutional coordination, and stakeholder influence. By tracing these dynamics, the article demonstrates how core definitions serve not simply as technical terms but as strategic instruments for balancing flexibility, legal certainty, and regulatory coherence within the EU’s broader digital governance framework. This article contributes to a better understanding of these strategic terminologies in the DA which in light of current calls within the Omnibus acquis for simplifications of data regulation in the EU has become increasingly relevant.