The Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) is seeking public feedback on the positions proposed for Regulations and Advisory Guidelines under the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (PDPA).
Singapore, 5 February 2013 | For Immediate Release
The Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) is seeking public feedback on the positions proposed for Regulations and Advisory Guidelines under the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (PDPA).
The public consultation exercise will be held from 5 February 2013 till 19 March 2013. This is the first public consultation exercise launched by the PDPC to consult on the proposed Regulations and Advisory Guidelines that would help organisations to get ready to comply with the PDPA as it comes into effect in phases from 2014.
The Regulations and Advisory Guidelines aim to give organisations and individuals greater clarity by elaborating on specific requirements, obligations and interpretations under the PDPA. In this public consultation exercise, the PDPC seeks views on proposed Regulations such as who may act for minors or decreased individuals, and the manner and procedures for making and responding to requests for access to or correction of personal data. The proposed Advisory Guidelines provides interpretation of specific provisions in the PDPA. It will provide greater certainty as to what is meant by “personal data”, “consent for a reasonable purpose” and “publicly available data”, as well as illustrate how the PDPA obligations may apply to certain common scenarios which organisations and individuals alike may face.
As the PDPC may be conducting further public consultation exercises on proposed guidelines in the future, organisations and individuals could also suggest new topics to be included in subsequent sets of guidelines.
Mr Leong Keng Thai, Chairman of the PDPC, said “The PDPA was enacted to safeguard individuals’ personal data against misuse by regulating the proper management of personal data. Given that the PDPA will bring about some changes to both organisations and individuals with regard to how personal data is being managed and protected, it is therefore important that the public is consulted on the proposed Regulations and Advisory Guidelines, as these documents provide further clarity on the implementation of the PDPA. This will ensure that the final Regulations and Guidelines will address concerns and will be practical to implement. We welcome individuals and organisations to contribute their views in this public consultation exercise.”
To-date approximately 40 associations and more than 3,000 participants from 700 organisations have been engaged as part of the outreach efforts to raise awareness and deepen understanding of the PDPA. In the upcoming months, the PDPC will work closely with industry associations to ramp up its education and outreach activities.
Submission of Feedback
The public consultation paper is available on the PDPC’s online consultation website at http://www.pdpc.gov.sg/personal-data-protection-act/public-consultations from 5 February 2013. All submissions on the consultations should reach PDPC by 19 March 2013 (5 pm).
The finalised Regulations and Guidelines will be published by the second half of 2013.
ISSUED BY CORPORATE AND MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
INFOCOMM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
About Personal Data Protection Commission
The Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) administers the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 in Singapore, which aims to safeguard individuals’ personal data against misuse and promote proper management of personal data in organisations. In addition, the Act will enhance Singapore’s competitiveness and strengthen our position as a trusted business hub, putting Singapore on par with the growing list of countries with data protection laws. For more information, please visit www.pdpc.gov.sg.
For media queries, please contact:
Ms Jeanne Tan
Manager, Media Relations
Personal Data Protection Commission
C/O Info-Communications Development Authority of Singapore (IDA)
Tel: 6211 1796
Email: jeanne_tan@imda.gov.sg
.webp)