Standards Comparison

    GDPR

    Mandatory
    2016

    EU regulation protecting personal data globally for EU residents

    VS

    Basel III

    Mandatory
    2010

    Global framework for bank capital, leverage, and liquidity standards.

    Quick Verdict

    GDPR protects personal data privacy across all industries targeting EU residents with strict rights and fines up to 4% turnover. Basel III ensures bank resilience through capital, leverage, and liquidity rules. Organizations adopt GDPR for compliance, Basel III for financial stability.

    Data Privacy

    GDPR

    Regulation (EU) 2016/679 - General Data Protection Regulation

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    Medium
    Implementation Time
    18-24 months

    Key Features

    • Applies extraterritorially to non-EU organizations targeting EU residents
    • Mandates accountability principle requiring demonstrable compliance
    • Imposes fines up to 4% of global annual turnover
    • Grants data subject rights including erasure and portability
    • Requires 72-hour personal data breach notifications
    Financial Risk Management

    Basel III

    Basel III: Finalising post-crisis reforms

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    Medium
    Implementation Time
    18-24 months

    Key Features

    • Strengthened CET1 capital requirements at 4.5% minimum
    • Non-risk-based leverage ratio of 3% minimum
    • Liquidity Coverage Ratio for 30-day stress survival
    • Net Stable Funding Ratio for structural resilience
    • Capital buffers with automatic distribution restrictions

    Detailed Analysis

    A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

    GDPR Details

    What It Is

    Regulation (EU) 2016/679, known as GDPR, is a directly applicable EU regulation modernizing data privacy. It protects natural persons' personal data across the EU and extraterritorially, using a risk-based, accountability-driven approach with seven core principles including lawfulness, minimization, and integrity.

    Key Components

    • Seven principles (e.g., purpose limitation, accountability)
    • Enhanced data subject rights (access, erasure, portability)
    • Obligations like DPIAs, ROPAs, DPO appointment, 72-hour breach notification
    • Enforcement via fines up to 4% global turnover; one-stop-shop supervision

    Why Organizations Use It

    Mandatory for processing EU data, it ensures legal compliance, reduces breach risks, builds trust, and meets global benchmarks like LGPD/CCPA. Provides competitive edge via privacy-by-design.

    Implementation Overview

    Involves gap analysis, policy updates, training, DPIAs, and audits. Applies to all sizes processing EU data; two-year transition originally, ongoing compliance via EDPB guidance. No certification, but supervisory authority oversight.

    Basel III Details

    What It Is

    Basel III is the international prudential regulatory framework issued by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) following the 2007-2009 financial crisis. It aims to strengthen bank resilience by improving capital quality and quantity, introducing leverage constraints, and mandating liquidity buffers. The methodology employs a "belts and suspenders" approach, blending risk-weighted assets (RWA) with non-risk-based metrics.

    Key Components

    • **Pillar 1Capital ratios (CET1 ≥4.5%, Tier 1 ≥6%, Total ≥8% of RWA), leverage ratio (≥3%), LCR (100% HQLA coverage), NSFR (stable funding ≥100%).
    • **Pillar 2Supervisory review process (ICAAP, stress testing).
    • **Pillar 3Enhanced disclosures for RWA comparability (templates like KM1, LR2, CDC). Includes buffers (conservation 2.5%, countercyclical, G-SIB). Compliance via national laws, no global certification.

    Why Organizations Use It

    Mandatory for internationally active banks via jurisdictional implementation; enhances solvency, curbs leverage, boosts liquidity resilience. Provides risk management discipline, comparability, lower funding costs, and market confidence amid stigma challenges.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased enterprise transformation: gap analysis, data architecture upgrades, governance (PMO, RACI), model validation, training. Targets large banks globally; requires ongoing reporting and supervisory audits.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    GDPR
    Personal data protection and privacy rights
    Basel III
    Bank capital, leverage, liquidity resilience

    Industry

    GDPR
    All sectors processing EU data globally
    Basel III
    Banks and financial institutions worldwide

    Nature

    GDPR
    Mandatory EU regulation with fines
    Basel III
    Global banking standards via national law

    Testing

    GDPR
    DPIAs for high-risk processing
    Basel III
    Stress tests, ICAAP, supervisory reviews

    Penalties

    GDPR
    Up to 4% global turnover fines
    Basel III
    Capital add-ons, business restrictions

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about GDPR and Basel III

    GDPR FAQ

    Basel III FAQ

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