Standards Comparison

    PIPL

    Mandatory
    2021

    China's comprehensive national law protecting personal information

    VS

    U.S. SEC Cybersecurity Rules

    Mandatory
    2023

    U.S. SEC rules mandating cybersecurity incident and governance disclosures

    Quick Verdict

    PIPL mandates privacy protections for Chinese data with consent and localization, while U.S. SEC rules require public firms to disclose cyber incidents in 4 days and governance processes. Companies adopt PIPL for China market access, SEC for investor transparency.

    Data Privacy

    PIPL

    Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL)

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

    U.S. SEC Cybersecurity Rules

    Cybersecurity Risk Management, Strategy, Governance, and Incident Disclosure

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

    Key Features

    • Four-business-day disclosure of material cybersecurity incidents
    • Annual risk management, strategy, and governance disclosures
    • Inline XBRL tagging for structured, comparable data
    • Board oversight and management role requirements
    • Inclusion of third-party risks in processes

    Detailed Analysis

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

    PIPL Details

    What It Is

    PIPL (Personal Information Protection Law) is China's comprehensive national regulation enacted August 20, 2021, effective November 1, 2021, with 74 articles across eight chapters. It governs collection, processing, storage, transfer, and deletion of personal information, applying territorially and extraterritorially to foreign entities targeting individuals in China. Adopting a risk-based approach, it emphasizes consent, data minimization, and national security alongside individual rights.

    Key Components

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

    Why Organizations Use It

    PIPL drives market access in China, mitigates fines up to RMB 50 million or 5% revenue, enhances trust, reduces breach risks. Mandatory for multinationals, platforms handling Chinese data; strategic for resilience, partnerships.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased: gap analysis, data mapping, policies, controls, transfers. Applies globally to China-exposed firms; involves DPOs for large handlers, ongoing audits. (178 words)

    U.S. SEC Cybersecurity Rules Details

    What It Is

    U.S. SEC Cybersecurity Rules (Release No. 33-11216), adopted in 2023, are federal regulations amending Regulation S-K and Forms 8-K/10-K. They standardize cybersecurity disclosures for public companies, focusing on material incidents and risk management. The risk-based approach requires timely reporting without prescribing technical controls.

    Key Components

    • **Incident disclosureForm 8-K Item 1.05 mandates reporting material cybersecurity incidents within four business days.
    • **Periodic disclosuresRegulation S-K Item 106 covers risk processes, strategy impacts, board oversight, and management roles.
    • Inline XBRL tagging for structured data.
    • Built on securities materiality principles; no fixed controls, but governance and processes emphasized.

    Why Organizations Use It

    Public companies comply to meet legal obligations under Exchange Act reporting. Benefits include investor protection, reduced asymmetry, enhanced comparability, and integrated disclosure controls. Builds trust, supports capital efficiency, and mitigates enforcement risks like fines or penalties.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased rollout: incident reporting from Dec 2023 (SRCs June 2024); annual from FYE Dec 2023. Involves gap analysis, materiality playbooks, cross-functional committees, IRP updates, TPRM enhancements, and XBRL readiness. Applies to all Exchange Act registrants; no certification, but SEC enforcement applies.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    PIPL
    Personal info collection, processing, transfer, rights
    U.S. SEC Cybersecurity Rules
    Cyber incident disclosure, risk management, governance

    Industry

    PIPL
    All handling Chinese residents' data, extraterritorial
    U.S. SEC Cybersecurity Rules
    Public companies/registrants, U.S. capital markets

    Nature

    PIPL
    Mandatory privacy law, CAC enforcement
    U.S. SEC Cybersecurity Rules
    Mandatory SEC disclosure regulation, fines/enforcement

    Testing

    PIPL
    DPIAs for high-risk, security audits, certifications
    U.S. SEC Cybersecurity Rules
    No mandated testing; process description, controls

    Penalties

    PIPL
    Up to 5% revenue or RMB 50M, business suspension
    U.S. SEC Cybersecurity Rules
    SEC fines, enforcement, shareholder litigation

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about PIPL and U.S. SEC Cybersecurity Rules

    PIPL FAQ

    U.S. SEC Cybersecurity Rules FAQ

    You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

    Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

    Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform

    Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.

    100+ Standards & Regulations
    AI-Powered Insights
    Collaborative Assessments
    Actionable Recommendations

    Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages