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Global Data RulesData governance rules, country by country

Data governance rules, country by country

What rules apply to the data you collect about people, in each country — in plain English.

Most privacy laws apply to you even if you have no office in that country. If you have users somewhere, you probably have obligations there.

Or answer three questions and see only the countries that apply to you

Can the data leave? whether you can store it outside the country · Work roughly how much compliance effort this country creates · Enforced? whether the regulator actually acts, which is often very different from how strict the law reads

  • AlgeriaDZ
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • ArgentinaAR
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • ArmeniaAM
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumDormant

    Checked 2 days ago

  • AustraliaAU
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • AustriaAT
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • AzerbaijanAZ
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • BahrainBH
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • BangladeshBD
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumDormant

    Checked 2 days ago

  • BelgiumBE
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • BrazilBR
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • BruneiBN
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • BulgariaBG
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • CambodiaKH
    Depends on your industryWork: LowDormant

    Checked 2 days ago

  • CanadaCA
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • ChileCL
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • ChinaCN
    Yes, with paperworkWork: Very highActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • ColombiaCO
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • Costa RicaCR
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumWaking up

    Checked yesterday

  • CroatiaHR
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • CyprusCY
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • CzechiaCZ
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • DenmarkDK
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • Dominican RepublicDO
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumDormant

    Checked yesterday

  • EcuadorEC
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked yesterday

  • EgyptEG
    Yes, with paperworkWork: Very highWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • EstoniaEE
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • EthiopiaET
    A copy must stayWork: HighDormant

    Checked 2 days ago

  • FinlandFI
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • FranceFR
    Depends on your industryWork: HighAggressive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • GeorgiaGE
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • GermanyDE
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • GhanaGH
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • GreeceGR
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • Hong Kong SARHK
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • HungaryHU
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • IcelandIS
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • IndiaIN
    Depends on your industryWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • IndonesiaID
    Depends on your industryWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • IraqIQ
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumDormant

    Checked 2 days ago

  • IrelandIE
    Depends on your industryWork: HighAggressive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • IsraelIL
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • ItalyIT
    Depends on your industryWork: HighAggressive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • JamaicaJM
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighDormant

    Checked yesterday

  • JapanJP
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • JordanJO
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • KazakhstanKZ
    A copy must stayWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • KenyaKE
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • KuwaitKW
    Depends on your industryWork: HighDormant

    Checked 2 days ago

  • LatviaLV
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • LebanonLB
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumDormant

    Checked 2 days ago

  • LithuaniaLT
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • LuxembourgLU
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • MalaysiaMY
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • MaltaMT
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • MauritiusMU
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked yesterday

  • MexicoMX
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • MongoliaMN
    Depends on your industryWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • MoroccoMA
    Depends on your industryWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • NepalNP
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumDormant

    Checked 2 days ago

  • NetherlandsNL
    Depends on your industryWork: HighAggressive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • New ZealandNZ
    Depends on your industryWork: LowActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • NigeriaNG
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • NorwayNO
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • OmanOM
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • PakistanPK
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumDormant

    Checked 2 days ago

  • PanamaPA
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumWaking up

    Checked yesterday

  • PeruPE
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked yesterday

  • PhilippinesPH
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • PolandPL
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • PortugalPT
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • QatarQA
    Depends on your industryWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • RomaniaRO
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • RussiaRU
    A copy must stayWork: Very highActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • RwandaRW
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked yesterday

  • Saudi ArabiaSA
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • SenegalSN
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumActive

    Checked yesterday

  • SerbiaRS
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • SingaporeSG
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • SlovakiaSK
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • SloveniaSI
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • South AfricaZA
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • South KoreaKR
    Depends on your industryWork: HighAggressive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • SpainES
    Depends on your industryWork: HighAggressive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • Sri LankaLK
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • SwedenSE
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • SwitzerlandCH
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • TaiwanTW
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • TanzaniaTZ
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • ThailandTH
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • Trinidad and TobagoTT
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumDormant

    Checked yesterday

  • TunisiaTN
    Depends on your industryWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • TurkeyTR
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • UgandaUG
    Depends on your industryWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • UkraineUA
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • United Arab EmiratesAE
    Depends on your industryWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • United KingdomGB
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • United StatesUS
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked 2 days ago

  • UruguayUY
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked yesterday

  • UzbekistanUZ
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • VietnamVN
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • ZambiaZM
    A copy must stayWork: Very highWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

  • ZimbabweZW
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked 2 days ago

Showing 102 of 102 countries

Three ratings, no jargon

Can the data leave, how much work it is, and whether the rules are actually enforced. A strict law and a strict regulator are not the same thing, so we never show them the same way.

Every claim is checkable

Answers carry links to the government's own text, with the regulator's exact words quoted where they are short enough.

We admit the gaps

Each country page has a section titled “What we're not sure about”. If we could not verify something from an official source, it says so.