Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA)

This Act applies to any person who collects and processes personal data in regards to commercial transactions.

The seven principles of the Act are:

1. general
2. notice and choice
3. disclosure
4. retention
5. security
6. access
7. data integrity principle

Personal data relates directly or indirectly to a data subject, who is identified or identifiable from that information, or from that and other information in the possession of a data user, including any sensitive personal data and expression of opinion about the data subject. For example: name, identity card number, date of birth, mobile number and etc.

In the case where personal data processing is outsourced to a third party, known as the data processor, it is the responsibility of the data user to ensure that the data processor provides sufficient guarantee to protect the personal data from any loss, misuse, modification, unauthorized or accidental access or disclosure, alteration or destruction.

This Act affects the personal data life cycle management process from the point personal data is collected, used, stored and destroyed.

This Act applies to customers, employees and third party service providers’ personal data.

A company's way of doing business will definitely be affected as business processes are required to be refined to comply with the PDPA requirements.

Most importantly, a central repository may be required for consent management. The process becomes more complex when cross border personal data transfer is involved.