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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 about 2 months ago

  • ArgentinaAR
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • ArmeniaAM
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumDormant

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • AustraliaAU
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • AustriaAT
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • AzerbaijanAZ
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • BahrainBH
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • BangladeshBD
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumDormant

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • BelgiumBE
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • BrazilBR
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • BruneiBN
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • BulgariaBG
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • CambodiaKH
    Depends on your industryWork: LowDormant

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • CanadaCA
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • ChileCL
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • ChinaCN
    Yes, with paperworkWork: Very highActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • ColombiaCO
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • Costa RicaCR
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • CroatiaHR
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • CyprusCY
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • CzechiaCZ
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • DenmarkDK
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • Dominican RepublicDO
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumDormant

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • EcuadorEC
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • EgyptEG
    Yes, with paperworkWork: Very highWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • EstoniaEE
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • EthiopiaET
    A copy must stayWork: HighDormant

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • FinlandFI
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • FranceFR
    Depends on your industryWork: HighAggressive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • GeorgiaGE
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • GermanyDE
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • GhanaGH
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • GreeceGR
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • Hong Kong SARHK
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • HungaryHU
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • IcelandIS
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • IndiaIN
    Depends on your industryWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • IndonesiaID
    Depends on your industryWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • IraqIQ
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumDormant

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • IrelandIE
    Depends on your industryWork: HighAggressive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • IsraelIL
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • ItalyIT
    Depends on your industryWork: HighAggressive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • JamaicaJM
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighDormant

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • JapanJP
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • JordanJO
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • KazakhstanKZ
    A copy must stayWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • KenyaKE
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • KuwaitKW
    Depends on your industryWork: HighDormant

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • LatviaLV
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • LebanonLB
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumDormant

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • LithuaniaLT
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • LuxembourgLU
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • MalaysiaMY
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • MaltaMT
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • MauritiusMU
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • MexicoMX
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • MongoliaMN
    Depends on your industryWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • MoroccoMA
    Depends on your industryWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • NepalNP
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumDormant

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • NetherlandsNL
    Depends on your industryWork: HighAggressive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • New ZealandNZ
    Depends on your industryWork: LowActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • NigeriaNG
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • NorwayNO
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • OmanOM
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • PakistanPK
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumDormant

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • PanamaPA
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • PeruPE
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • PhilippinesPH
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • PolandPL
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • PortugalPT
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • QatarQA
    Depends on your industryWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • RomaniaRO
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • RussiaRU
    A copy must stayWork: Very highActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • RwandaRW
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • Saudi ArabiaSA
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • SenegalSN
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • SerbiaRS
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • SingaporeSG
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • SlovakiaSK
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • SloveniaSI
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • South AfricaZA
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • South KoreaKR
    Depends on your industryWork: HighAggressive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • SpainES
    Depends on your industryWork: HighAggressive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • Sri LankaLK
    Yes, with paperworkWork: MediumWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • SwedenSE
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • SwitzerlandCH
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • TaiwanTW
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • TanzaniaTZ
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • ThailandTH
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • Trinidad and TobagoTT
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumDormant

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • TunisiaTN
    Depends on your industryWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • TurkeyTR
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • UgandaUG
    Depends on your industryWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • UkraineUA
    Depends on your industryWork: MediumActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • United Arab EmiratesAE
    Depends on your industryWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • United KingdomGB
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • United StatesUS
    Depends on your industryWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • UruguayUY
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighActive

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • UzbekistanUZ
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • VietnamVN
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • ZambiaZM
    A copy must stayWork: Very highWaking up

    Checked about 2 months ago

  • ZimbabweZW
    Yes, with paperworkWork: HighWaking up

    Checked about 2 months 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.