What does the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) in South Africa resemble in terms of regulations?

The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) in South Africa is primarily modeled after the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) from the European Union. Both regulations share a common goal of enhancing individuals' rights over their personal data and establishing stringent requirements for organizations that process such data.

POPIA, like the GDPR, emphasizes the principles of data protection, including accountability, transparency, purpose limitation, data minimization, and the necessity of obtaining consent before processing personal information. Both laws provide individuals with rights regarding their personal information, such as the right to access their data, the right to request corrections, and the right to object to processing under certain conditions.

By aligning itself with the GDPR, POPIA not only aims to protect personal information within South Africa but also facilitates international data transfers, promoting global standards for data protection. This resemblance helps organizations in navigating compliance obligations when dealing with personal data both domestically and globally.