Who really controls your data, and what rights do you have to it?

The increasing reliance on AI for decision-making has amplified the importance of data accessibility and movement, yet data silos remain a significant challenge, particularly in the SaaS industry. SaaS providers often create "walled gardens" by restricting data access and portability, which can degrade the effectiveness of analytics and AI. Although regulations like the EU Data Act grant customers rights over their data, control is often limited by platform constraints and contractual terms that favor the vendors. These restrictions are compounded by technical barriers and egress costs, as vendors control how data can be accessed and under what conditions. While customers are expected to gravitate towards more open platforms eventually, SaaS vendors currently have strong incentives to lock customers into their ecosystems. To address these challenges, customers are encouraged to choose SaaS providers carefully and consider technical solutions to ensure data accessibility, while advocating for greater transparency and pressure on vendors to change restrictive practices.