Understanding Saudi Arabia’s Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL): How Joushen Ensures Your Compliance
The Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) is a landmark regulation in Saudi Arabia aimed at protecting personal data and ensuring that organizations handle it responsibly. As businesses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) navigate this law, Joushen offers comprehensive compliance services to help them stay aligned with PDPL requirements.
What is PDPL?
The PDPL was officially published on September 24, 2021, with full enforcement starting on March 17, 2023. It applies to all businesses in KSA that collect, process, and store personal data of Saudi residents. PDPL mandates that organizations safeguard the personal information they manage, from collection to eventual destruction, ensuring transparency, security, and accountability at every step.
Who Does PDPL Apply To?
The law applies to any public or private entity, including those operating outside KSA, that handles the personal data of Saudi residents. This extends to sectors like healthcare, fintech, and e-commerce, as well as international businesses providing services to Saudi citizens.
Key Principles of PDPL
The PDPL outlines a set of principles for businesses to follow:
- Purpose Limitation: Data collection must have a clear, lawful purpose, and businesses cannot collect data without proper justification.
- Data Minimization: Companies should only collect data necessary for their operations and avoid excessive data collection.
- Consent: Users must give consent before businesses can process their data, and they must be informed of how their data will be used.
- Security: Businesses must ensure personal data is securely stored, processed, and transferred.
- Cross-border Transfers: Transferring data outside of Saudi Arabia requires extra precautions and may need approval from authorities.
Data Subject Rights under PDPL
PDPL grants individuals several rights regarding their data, including:
- Right to be informed: Users must know how their data is collected and processed.
- Right to access: Individuals can request access to their personal data.
- Right to correction: Users can request corrections or updates to their data.
- Right to deletion: If data is no longer needed, users can request its deletion.
Penalties for Non-compliance
Non-compliance with PDPL can lead to severe penalties, including fines of up to SAR 5 million (USD 1.3 million) and even imprisonment for violations related to sensitive data. Repeated offenses can see fines doubled, with the Public Prosecution Office handling investigations and prosecutions.
How Joushen Can Help
Joushen specializes in ensuring businesses are fully compliant with PDPL, offering services such as:
- Privacy Policy Development: We help you draft and implement privacy policies that meet PDPL standards.
- Data Processing Audits: Joushen conducts thorough audits of your data handling practices to identify gaps and ensure compliance.
- Security Measures Implementation: We assist in setting up robust data security protocols to protect your organization against breaches and unauthorized access.
- Cross-border Data Transfers: Our experts ensure that your international data transfers meet the requirements set by PDPL.
With Joushen’s expertise, your business can confidently navigate the complexities of PDPL, safeguarding your operations and protecting the personal data of Saudi residents.
