Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL)

What is the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL)?

The Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) is China’s national privacy law that sets rules for processing personal information, including requirements for consent, transparency, security safeguards, and data minimization. It applies to organizations operating in China as well as companies outside China that handle the personal information of individuals located in China.

PIPL introduces strict requirements for lawful processing, individual rights, automated decision-making, and cross-border data transfer restrictions.

The law aligns with global privacy frameworks and shares similarities with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), but incorporates China-specific requirements and regulatory structures.

Why the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) matters

PIPL significantly enhances privacy protections for individuals in China by granting rights such as access, correction, deletion, and the ability to withdraw consent. It requires organizations to process personal information responsibly and transparently.

For organizations, PIPL creates robust compliance obligations, including heightened consent standards, strict limits on data transfers, rules for automated decision-making, and strong enforcement penalties for violations.

Compliance with PIPL is essential for maintaining trust, reducing regulatory exposure, and supporting responsible data handling across global operations.

How the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) Is used in practice

• Defining lawful bases and obtaining explicit, informed consent
• Providing transparency through privacy notices and disclosures
• Responding to rights requests for access, correction, or deletion
• Conducting risk assessments for high-risk processing activities
• Applying strict rules for cross-border transfers of personal information
• Implementing security safeguards to protect personal data

Related Laws & Standards

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA)
• Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)
• SOC 2
• India DPDPA

How OneTrust helps with the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL)

OneTrust helps organizations operationalize PIPL compliance with automated data mapping, privacy assessments, rights request workflows, and cross-border transfer documentation.

The platform centralizes governance activities, monitors ongoing risks, and provides audit-ready reporting to support China’s regulatory requirements.
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FAQs about the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL)