Saudi Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL)
Summary
The Saudi Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) was issued by Royal Decree M/19 of 9/2/1443H (September 16, 2021) and came into full effect in September 2023. It establishes a comprehensive framework for the protection of personal data in Saudi Arabia, with significant implications for AI systems that process personal data.
Key Obligations
- •Obtain valid consent for processing personal data
- •Implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect data
- •Maintain records of processing activities
- •Conduct data protection impact assessments for high-risk processing
- •Report data breaches to the regulatory authority
- •Appoint a data protection officer (in certain cases)
- •Ensure lawful cross-border transfers of personal data
- •Provide mechanisms for data subjects to exercise their rights
Enforcement
Regulator
Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA)
Penalties
Fines of up to 5 million Saudi Riyals (approximately $1.3 million USD) for violations, with potential imprisonment for certain offenses.
Audit Mechanism
Regulatory inspections, data protection impact assessments, and compliance audits conducted by SDAIA.
Applicable To
- •Organizations processing personal data of individuals in Saudi Arabia
- •Data controllers and processors located in Saudi Arabia
- •Organizations outside Saudi Arabia processing data of Saudi residents
- •Public and private sector entities
- •AI systems that process personal data
AI-GPM Coverage
Rakshan provides comprehensive coverage for PDPL compliance, including data mapping, automated decision-making compliance tools, data protection impact assessment automation, and consent management systems. Our platform helps organizations identify and mitigate risks related to AI systems processing personal data.
Resources
Overview
The Saudi Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) was issued by Royal Decree M/19 of 9/2/1443H (September 16, 2021) and came into full effect in September 2023. It establishes a comprehensive framework for the protection of personal data in Saudi Arabia, with significant implications for AI systems that process personal data.
The PDPL applies to the processing of personal data by entities within Saudi Arabia, as well as entities outside Saudi Arabia that process the personal data of individuals residing in Saudi Arabia. It establishes rights for data subjects and obligations for data controllers and processors.
Key Provisions
Data Subject Rights
- •Right to be informed about the processing of personal data
- •Right to access personal data
- •Right to rectification of inaccurate personal data
- •Right to erasure of personal data
- •Right to restrict processing
- •Right to data portability
- •Right to object to processing
Controller Obligations
- •Obtain valid consent for processing personal data
- •Implement appropriate technical and organizational measures
- •Maintain records of processing activities
- •Conduct data protection impact assessments
- •Report data breaches to the regulatory authority
- •Appoint a data protection officer (in certain cases)
- •Ensure lawful cross-border transfers of personal data
AI-Specific Provisions
Automated Decision-Making
The PDPL includes provisions related to automated decision-making, including profiling. Data subjects have the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing that produces legal effects or similarly significantly affects them.
Organizations using AI for automated decision-making must:
- •Implement suitable safeguards
- •Allow for human intervention
- •Enable data subjects to express their point of view
- •Provide an explanation of the decision reached
Data Minimization and Purpose Limitation
The PDPL requires that personal data be collected for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes and not further processed in a manner incompatible with those purposes. This has significant implications for AI systems, which often rely on large datasets.
AI developers and operators must ensure that:
- •Only necessary data is collected and processed
- •Data is not used for purposes beyond those initially specified
- •Data is anonymized or pseudonymized where possible
- •Data is deleted when no longer needed
Implementation Timeline
September 16, 2021
Royal Decree issuing the Personal Data Protection Law
March 23, 2022
Publication of the Executive Regulations
September 14, 2022
Beginning of the one-year grace period for compliance
September 14, 2023
Full enforcement of the PDPL
How Rakshan Helps
Data Mapping & Inventory
Rakshan helps organizations identify and map personal data processed by AI systems, ensuring compliance with the PDPL's documentation requirements.
Automated Decision-Making Compliance
Our platform provides tools to ensure AI systems comply with the PDPL's requirements for automated decision-making, including explainability and human oversight.
Data Protection Impact Assessments
Rakshan automates the process of conducting DPIAs for AI systems, helping organizations identify and mitigate risks to data subjects.
Need Help With Compliance?
Our platform automates compliance with Saudi Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) and other global AI regulations.