Standards Comparison

    PIPL

    Mandatory
    2021

    China's comprehensive regulation for personal information protection

    VS

    Basel III

    Mandatory
    2010

    Global framework for bank capital, leverage, and liquidity standards

    Quick Verdict

    PIPL protects personal data for all China-facing organizations with strict consent and transfer rules, while Basel III mandates capital/liquidity standards for banks to ensure financial stability. Companies adopt PIPL for market access, Basel III for prudential resilience.

    Data Privacy

    PIPL

    Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL)

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    Medium
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months

    Key Features

    • Extraterritorial scope targeting China individuals
    • Consent-first with no legitimate interests basis
    • Explicit separate consent for sensitive PI
    • Volume thresholds for cross-border transfers
    • Fines up to 5% annual revenue
    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 and buffers
    • Non-risk-based leverage ratio backstop
    • Liquidity Coverage Ratio for 30-day stress
    • Net Stable Funding Ratio for one-year horizon
    • Enhanced Pillar 3 RWA comparability disclosures

    Detailed Analysis

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

    PIPL Details

    What It Is

    Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) is China's comprehensive national regulation enacted in 2021, effective November 1. It governs collection, processing, storage, transfer, and deletion of personal information with extraterritorial scope for foreign entities targeting China. Adopts a risk-based approach emphasizing consent, minimization, and security, alongside Cybersecurity Law and Data Security Law.

    Key Components

    • Core principles: lawfulness, necessity, minimization, transparency, accountability.
    • Seven legal bases, consent-dominant without broad legitimate interests.
    • Sensitive PI rules, individual rights (access, deletion, portability), cross-border mechanisms (SCCs, assessments).
    • No formal certification; compliance via audits, PIPIAs for high-risk activities.

    Why Organizations Use It

    Mandatory for China-exposed firms to avoid fines up to 5% revenue. Enables market access, builds trust, reduces breach risks, supports global operations via compliant transfers.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased: gap analysis, data mapping, policies, controls, monitoring. Applies universally to handlers of Chinese PI; complex for multinationals requiring localization, representatives. 6-12 months typical, ongoing governance essential.

    Basel III Details

    What It Is

    Basel III is the global prudential regulatory framework by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS), introduced post-2007 financial crisis. It strengthens bank resilience through enhanced capital quality and quantity, leverage constraints, liquidity standards, and disclosures. Employs a risk-based approach with non-risk-based backstops like leverage ratio.

    Key Components

    • **Three PillarsPillar 1 (minimum capital ratios: CET1 4.5%, Tier 1 6%, Total 8%; buffers; LCR/NSFR; leverage 3%); Pillar 2 (supervisory review/ICAAP); Pillar 3 (comparability-focused disclosures).
    • Built on revised RWA methods, output floor, operational risk SMA.
    • Compliance via national implementation, no fixed controls count.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Mandatory for internationally active banks to meet legal requirements, avoid enforcement.
    • Enhances solvency/liquidity, reduces systemic risk, lowers funding costs.
    • Strategic: reprices balance sheets, optimizes assets, builds stakeholder trust.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased transformation: diagnostics, data/systems build, parallel testing, governance.
    • Targets large banks globally; requires data lineage, stress testing.
    • Ongoing supervisory audits, no formal certification. (178 words)

    Key Differences

    Scope

    PIPL
    Personal data protection, processing, transfers
    Basel III
    Bank capital, liquidity, leverage requirements

    Industry

    PIPL
    All sectors handling Chinese PI, extraterritorial
    Basel III
    Internationally active banks, financial institutions

    Nature

    PIPL
    Mandatory national law, CAC enforcement
    Basel III
    International prudential standards, national implementation

    Testing

    PIPL
    DPIAs for high-risk, security audits
    Basel III
    Stress tests, ICAAP, RWA validation

    Penalties

    PIPL
    Fines to 5% revenue, business suspension
    Basel III
    Supervisory add-ons, dividend restrictions

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about PIPL and Basel III

    PIPL FAQ

    Basel III FAQ

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