Many countries around the world have enacted data privacy laws to regulate the collection, processing, and protection of personal information. Below is a list of some countries with notable data privacy laws. Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and data protection laws may have been updated or introduced post this writing.
1. European Union (EU) Member States
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies across all EU member states, providing a unified framework for data protection.
2. United States
While there is no comprehensive federal data privacy law, several states have enacted their own privacy regulations, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA).
3. Canada
Canada has the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), which regulates the use of personal information in the private sector.
4. Australia
The Privacy Act 1988 governs the handling of personal information in the private sector, and the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme requires organizations to notify affected individuals and the regulator of certain data breaches.
5. Japan
Japan has the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI), which regulates the handling of personal information by businesses.
6. South Korea
South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) governs the collection and handling of personal information by businesses.
7. Brazil
Brazil has the Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados (LGPD), which is the country’s comprehensive data protection law.
8. India
India has the The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 as its data protection legislation. The Act aims to provide for the processing of digital personal data in a manner that recognises both the right of individuals to protect their personal data and the need to process such personal data for lawful purposes and for matters connected therewith.
9. Singapore
Singapore has the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), which governs the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data by organizations.
10. United Kingdom
While the UK was part of the EU, it adhered to the GDPR. Post-Brexit, the UK has its own version of the GDPR, known as the UK GDPR.
11. China
China has the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL), which focuses on the protection of personal information.
12. Argentina
Argentina has the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL), which regulates the processing of personal data.
13. Nigeria
Nigeria has the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), which regulates the processing of personal data in the country.
It’s important to stay informed about data protection laws and regulations in the jurisdictions relevant to your operations, as they can have implications for how organizations handle personal information. Additionally, new laws and amendments may be introduced over time.
