---
title: "China PIPL vs EU GDPR: Requirements Compared"
canonical_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/china-privacy-law-vs-gdpr"
source_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/china-privacy-law-vs-gdpr"
author: "Sorena AI"
description: "Compare PIPL and GDPR scope, roles, legal bases, rights, impact assessments, breach deadlines, international transfers, and penalties."
published_at: "2026-07-05"
updated_at: "2026-07-24"
keywords:
  - "China PIPL"
  - "Personal Information Protection Law"
  - "Data export"
  - "Standard contract"
  - "App privacy"
---
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# China PIPL vs EU GDPR: Requirements Compared

Compare PIPL and GDPR scope, roles, legal bases, rights, impact assessments, breach deadlines, international transfers, and penalties.

*Comparison* *China*

## China PIPL vs EU GDPR

Use this comparison to separate PIPL and GDPR scope, roles, legal bases, rights, assessments, breach response, transfers, and enforcement.

The laws share lifecycle controls, but a GDPR controller analysis, lawful basis, DPIA, or EU transfer mechanism does not replace the corresponding PIPL decision.

PIPL and the EU GDPR overlap, but compliance with one does not establish compliance with the other. Both can apply outside their home territory, regulate decision-makers and vendors, require lawful processing and security, grant individual rights, and restrict international transfers. They use different territorial tests, legal roles, consent rules, impact-assessment triggers, breach duties, and transfer mechanisms. Test both laws for each processing activity and keep the two legal conclusions in the record.

## China PIPL vs EU GDPR

Compare territorial reach, roles, legal bases, sensitive data, rights, impact assessments, breaches, transfers, and enforcement. Apply each law independently.

- **China PIPL**: Use the official PIPL text and current China transfer rules for the China conclusion.
- **EU GDPR**: Use the consolidated GDPR text and applicable EU or national guidance for the EU conclusion.

| Dimension | China PIPL | EU GDPR | Operational implication | Sources |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Territorial reach | PIPL applies to processing personal information in China. It also reaches overseas processing intended to provide products or services to people in China, analyze or assess their behavior, or meet another condition set by law or regulation. An overseas processor within that rule must establish an institution or appoint a representative in China. | GDPR applies to processing in the context of an EU establishment regardless of where processing occurs. It also reaches a non-EU controller or processor offering goods or services to, or monitoring behavior of, people in the EU when the behavior occurs there. Article 27 generally requires a written EU representative for Article 3(2) processing, subject to its exceptions. | Record the establishment, targeting, or monitoring facts under GDPR and the in-China or overseas ground under PIPL; neither territorial result determines the other. | [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - PIPL Articles 3 and 53 and GDPR Articles 3 and 27 require separate territorial and representative analyses.<br>[EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - GDPR Articles 3 and 27 do not determine PIPL territorial coverage. |
| Core roles | A personal information processor decides the purpose and method. An entrusted processor handles information under an agreement stating the purpose, duration, method, categories, protection measures, and parties' rights and duties; the processor must supervise it. Joint decision-makers agree their duties and can face joint liability. | A controller determines purposes and means. A processor acts on documented instructions under an Article 28 contract and has specified direct duties. Joint controllers must transparently allocate responsibilities under Article 26 without removing data-subject rights against either controller. | Classify the actual decision-making under both laws and keep the Article 21 PIPL terms separate from the GDPR Article 28 clauses. | [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - PIPL Articles 20-21 impose role and contract rules separate from GDPR Articles 26 and 28.<br>[EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - GDPR Articles 26 and 28 do not replace PIPL entrusted-processing requirements. |
| Processing basis and consent | Article 13 permits processing under consent or listed non-consent circumstances, including necessity to conclude or perform a contract with the individual, human-resources necessity under lawfully formulated employment rules or a lawfully concluded collective contract, legal duties, emergencies, specified news and public-interest activities, and reasonable processing of lawfully public information. Separate consent applies to specified disclosures, sensitive personal information, and overseas provision. | Article 6 provides six lawful bases: consent, contract, legal obligation, vital interests, public task, and legitimate interests, with limits on the last basis for public authorities. Consent must satisfy Articles 4(11) and 7. Special-category data also needs an Article 9(2) exception; Article 6 alone is insufficient. | Document the PIPL circumstance, any separate-consent trigger, the GDPR Article 6 basis, and any Article 9 condition as distinct conclusions. | [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - PIPL Articles 13-18 require a distinct processing-circumstance and separate-consent analysis.<br>[EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - A GDPR Article 6 basis and any Article 9 exception do not establish a PIPL circumstance. |
| Sensitive data and assessments | Sensitive personal information is information that, if leaked or illegally used, can readily harm dignity or personal or property safety. It includes biometrics, religious belief, specific identity, medical health, financial accounts, location tracking, and information of children under 14. Processing requires a specific purpose, sufficient necessity, strict safeguards, additional notice, separate consent, and a pre-processing PIPIA. | Article 9 special categories are racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade-union membership, genetic and biometric data used for unique identification, health data, and sex-life or sexual-orientation data. Processing is prohibited unless an Article 9(2) condition applies. Criminal-conviction data is governed separately by Article 10. | Maintain separate classification fields. Data may fall within one protected category but not the other, and each category changes a different legal test. | [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - PIPL Articles 28-32 create a protected category distinct from GDPR Articles 9-10.<br>[EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - GDPR Articles 9-10 do not define the PIPL sensitive-personal-information category. |
| Individual rights | Individuals have rights to know and decide, restrict or refuse processing, access and copy, correct, and delete, subject to statutory conditions. For a decision with a major effect made solely through automated decision-making, an individual may request an explanation and refuse a decision made only that way. A rejected rights request must be explained, and the individual may sue. | Data subjects have rights to information, access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, objection, and safeguards for decisions based solely on automated processing. The controller generally must respond without undue delay and within one month, extendable by two further months for complexity or volume if the person is told within the first month. | One intake channel can work only if it applies the correct right, exception, identity check, deadline, fee rule, and response explanation. | [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - PIPL Articles 24 and 44-50 require a separate rights and response analysis.<br>[EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - GDPR Articles 12 and 15-22 supply EU-specific rights, exceptions, and timing. |
| Impact assessments and records | Article 55 requires a PIPIA before sensitive-information processing, automated decision-making, entrusted processing, provision to another processor, public disclosure, overseas provision, and other processing with a major effect on individuals. The report and processing record must be kept for at least three years. Article 54 separately requires regular compliance audits. | Article 35 requires a DPIA before processing likely to result in high risk, especially specified systematic evaluations with significant effects, large-scale special-category or criminal-conviction processing, and large-scale systematic monitoring of public areas. Supervisory-authority lists can add or clarify triggers. Article 30 separately requires records of processing, subject to a limited exception for some organizations under 250 employees. | Reuse factual system and risk evidence, but keep separate trigger, content, consultation, approval, retention, and record-of-processing analyses. | [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - PIPL Articles 54-56 control the China assessment and audit record.<br>[EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - GDPR Articles 30 and 35-36 control the EU records, DPIA, review, and prior-consultation analysis. |
| Personal-data breaches | If personal information is or may be leaked, altered, or lost, the processor must immediately take remedial measures and notify the authorities and individuals with the information listed in Article 57. Individual notice may be omitted if the processor can effectively avoid harm, but an authority may still require it. PIPL does not state a fixed 72-hour period. | A controller must notify the competent supervisory authority without undue delay and, where feasible, within 72 hours after awareness unless the breach is unlikely to risk people's rights and freedoms. It must communicate a high-risk breach to affected people without undue delay unless an Article 34 exception applies. Processors notify controllers without undue delay. | Start both assessments when the incident is discovered, but record the trigger, recipient, deadline, exception, content, and decision under each law. | [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Article 57 supplies the China trigger and notice content.<br>[EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 33-34 supply the EU risk thresholds, recipients, and timing. |
| International transfers | Before overseas provision, PIPL generally requires recipient notice, separate consent, a PIPIA, and one Article 38 route unless a current exemption applies. Under the 2024 provisions, non-critical-information-infrastructure operators generally use a standard contract or certification when they export personal information of at least 100,000 but fewer than 1 million individuals, excluding sensitive personal information, or sensitive personal information of fewer than 10,000 individuals, counted from 1 January of the current year. A CAC assessment is required for critical information infrastructure operators, important data, personal information of at least 1 million individuals excluding sensitive personal information, or sensitive personal information of at least 10,000 individuals, subject to stated exemptions. | Chapter V permits transfer on an adequacy decision, appropriate safeguards such as the EU standard contractual clauses or binding corporate rules, or a limited Article 49 derogation. All Chapter V conditions must preserve GDPR protection, including for onward transfers. The chosen mechanism does not remove the rest of the GDPR duties. | For a China-EU flow, complete both analyses. The CAC standard contract and EU standard contractual clauses are different instruments with different legal tests. | [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - PIPL Articles 38-40 and the 2024 provisions control the China export analysis.<br>[Provisions on Promoting and Regulating Cross-border Data Flow](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2024-03/22/c_1712776611775634.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Use for current export exemptions, thresholds, three-year assessment validity and precedence over inconsistent older measures.<br>[EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - GDPR Chapter V controls the separate EU transfer analysis. |
| Enforcement and maximum fines | For a serious PIPL violation, the responsible authority may order correction, confiscate unlawful gains, and impose up to RMB 50 million or 5% of the prior year's turnover. It may also suspend business, revoke permits or a business license, and fine or disqualify responsible individuals. Lesser violations have a different penalty tier. | For infringements in GDPR Article 83(5), including core principles, data-subject rights, and international-transfer rules, a supervisory authority may impose up to EUR 20 million or 4% of the undertaking's total worldwide annual turnover from the preceding financial year, whichever is higher. Article 83 requires a case-specific assessment, and other infringement tiers and corrective powers also apply. | Do not treat 5% and 4% as directly comparable. The turnover base, infringement tier, authority powers, calculation, and affected entity can differ. | [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Article 66 uses China-specific remedies and penalty tiers.<br>[EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Article 83 requires EU-specific tier and case-factor analysis. |

Sources for Territorial reach - China PIPL:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 3 and 53 establish PIPL's in-China and overseas scope tests and the China institution-or-representative duty.

Sources for Territorial reach - EU GDPR:

- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 3 and 27 establish EU-establishment, offering, and monitoring scope and the representative rule and exceptions.

Sources for Territorial reach - operational implication:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - PIPL Articles 3 and 53 and GDPR Articles 3 and 27 require separate territorial and representative analyses.
- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - GDPR Articles 3 and 27 do not determine PIPL territorial coverage.

Sources for Core roles - China PIPL:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 20-21 govern joint decision-makers, entrusted processing terms, supervision, sub-entrustment, and return or deletion.

Sources for Core roles - EU GDPR:

- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 4(7)-(8), 26, and 28 define controller and processor roles and govern joint-controller arrangements and processor contracts.

Sources for Core roles - operational implication:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - PIPL Articles 20-21 impose role and contract rules separate from GDPR Articles 26 and 28.
- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - GDPR Articles 26 and 28 do not replace PIPL entrusted-processing requirements.

Sources for Processing basis and consent - China PIPL:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 13-18 establish processing circumstances, consent and withdrawal, separate-consent overlays, and notice duties.

Sources for Processing basis and consent - EU GDPR:

- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 4(11), 6-7, and 9 establish lawful bases, consent conditions, and the separate special-category prohibition and exceptions.

Sources for Processing basis and consent - operational implication:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - PIPL Articles 13-18 require a distinct processing-circumstance and separate-consent analysis.
- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - A GDPR Article 6 basis and any Article 9 exception do not establish a PIPL circumstance.

Sources for Sensitive data and assessments - China PIPL:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 28-32 define sensitive personal information and set purpose, necessity, notice, consent, child-data, and safeguard duties.

Sources for Sensitive data and assessments - EU GDPR:

- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 9-10 define special-category and criminal-conviction data rules and their conditions.

Sources for Sensitive data and assessments - operational implication:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - PIPL Articles 28-32 create a protected category distinct from GDPR Articles 9-10.
- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - GDPR Articles 9-10 do not define the PIPL sensitive-personal-information category.

Sources for Individual rights - China PIPL:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 24 and 44-50 establish individual rights, automated-decision protections, request mechanisms, rejection reasons, and judicial recourse.

Sources for Individual rights - EU GDPR:

- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 12 and 15-22 establish the listed rights and the one-month response period and possible two-month extension.

Sources for Individual rights - operational implication:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - PIPL Articles 24 and 44-50 require a separate rights and response analysis.
- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - GDPR Articles 12 and 15-22 supply EU-specific rights, exceptions, and timing.

Sources for Impact assessments and records - China PIPL:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 54-56 establish compliance audits, PIPIA triggers and content, and the minimum three-year retention period.

Sources for Impact assessments and records - EU GDPR:

- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 30 and 35-36 establish records of processing, DPIA triggers and content, review, and prior consultation for unmitigated high risk.

Sources for Impact assessments and records - operational implication:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - PIPL Articles 54-56 control the China assessment and audit record.
- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - GDPR Articles 30 and 35-36 control the EU records, DPIA, review, and prior-consultation analysis.

Sources for Personal-data breaches - China PIPL:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Article 57 establishes immediate remediation and authority and individual notification duties without stating a fixed hour count.

Sources for Personal-data breaches - EU GDPR:

- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 33-34 set controller, processor, supervisory-authority, and data-subject breach-notification rules, including the 72-hour authority target.

Sources for Personal-data breaches - operational implication:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Article 57 supplies the China trigger and notice content.
- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 33-34 supply the EU risk thresholds, recipients, and timing.

Sources for International transfers - China PIPL:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 38-40 establish China export routes, overseas-recipient notice and separate consent, and security-assessment duties.
- [Provisions on Promoting and Regulating Cross-border Data Flow](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2024-03/22/c_1712776611775634.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Use for current export exemptions, thresholds, three-year assessment validity and precedence over inconsistent older measures.

Sources for International transfers - EU GDPR:

- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 44-49 establish adequacy, safeguard, binding-corporate-rule, and derogation routes and the general protection requirement.

Sources for International transfers - operational implication:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - PIPL Articles 38-40 and the 2024 provisions control the China export analysis.
- [Provisions on Promoting and Regulating Cross-border Data Flow](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2024-03/22/c_1712776611775634.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Use for current export exemptions, thresholds, three-year assessment validity and precedence over inconsistent older measures.
- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - GDPR Chapter V controls the separate EU transfer analysis.

Sources for Enforcement and maximum fines - China PIPL:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Article 66 establishes corrective orders and the ordinary and serious-violation penalty tiers, including the RMB 50 million or 5% ceiling.

Sources for Enforcement and maximum fines - EU GDPR:

- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 58 and 83 establish supervisory-authority corrective powers, fine factors, infringement tiers, and the EUR 20 million or 4% upper tier.

Sources for Enforcement and maximum fines - operational implication:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Article 66 uses China-specific remedies and penalty tiers.
- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Article 83 requires EU-specific tier and case-factor analysis.

## How to use this comparison

Start with territorial scope and roles. PIPL covers processing in China and specified overseas processing involving people in China. GDPR covers processing in the context of an EU establishment and specified offering or monitoring involving people in the EU. A PIPL personal information processor resembles a GDPR controller because each decides the relevant purpose and method or means, but the statutes assign duties in their own terms.

Then record a legal basis under each law. PIPL Article 13 lists consent and non-consent circumstances and adds separate consent for specified activities. GDPR Article 6 lists six lawful bases, while Article 9 separately prohibits processing special-category data unless an exception applies. A valid GDPR basis does not automatically satisfy PIPL.

Run high-risk and transfer reviews independently. PIPL requires a personal information protection impact assessment (PIPIA) before the activities listed in Article 55 and retains the report and processing record for at least three years. GDPR requires a data protection impact assessment (DPIA) where processing is likely to result in high risk. China export routes and EU GDPR Chapter V mechanisms are separate instruments, even when the same vendor and dataset are involved.

- Record both territorial tests, entity roles, processing purposes, data categories, recipients, and retention periods.
- Map each purpose to a PIPL Article 13 circumstance and a GDPR Article 6 basis; add the separate sensitive-data or special-category analysis.
- Route individual requests under the correct right, exception, identity check, and deadline.
- For a transfer from China to the EU or from the EU to China, complete both transfer analyses; neither the CAC standard contract nor EU standard contractual clauses replace the other.

Sources for this answer:

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Use for PIPL scope, processing bases, notice and consent, individual rights, processor duties, PIPIA, cross-border transfer duties, penalties, and effective date.
- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Use for EU GDPR controller/processor, lawful-basis, DPIA, transfer, rights, and enforcement comparison points.

*Operationalize the requirement*

*Placement: Before primary sources*

## Prepare the PIPL and data export evidence file

Sorena AI links the China PIPL vs EU GDPR decision to owners, controls, and reviewer-ready records.

- [Map official sources to evidence](/solutions/research-copilot.md): Research Copilot connects the official citation, decision, owner, retained evidence, and change history.
- [Review the China route](/contact.md): Check the China Privacy Law scope decision and unresolved launch questions with Sorena.

## Primary sources

- [PRC Personal Information Protection Law](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/20/c_1631050028355286.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Article 66 uses China-specific remedies and penalty tiers.
- [Measures for the Standard Contract for Personal Information Export](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2023-02/24/c_1678884830036813.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Use for the CAC standard-contract form, pre-export PIPIA, contract effectiveness, filing and re-filing procedure; use the 2024 provisions for current exemptions and volume bands.
- [Measures for Security Assessment of Data Export](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2022-07/07/c_1658811536396503.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Use for assessment self-assessment, filing materials, review procedure and reapplication triggers; use the 2024 provisions for current exemptions, thresholds and validity.
- [Provisions on Promoting and Regulating Cross-border Data Flow](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2024-03/22/c_1712776611775634.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Use for current export exemptions, thresholds, three-year assessment validity and precedence over inconsistent older measures.
- [EU General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj?ref=sorena.io) - Article 83 requires EU-specific tier and case-factor analysis.

## Related Topic Guides

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- [China PIPL privacy notice and consent checklist](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/privacy-policy-and-consent-checklist.md): China PIPL checklist for privacy notices, valid consent, separate consent, sensitive information, children under 14, withdrawal, and rights requests.
- [China PIPL requirements](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/requirements.md): China PIPL requirements from scope and processing basis through notices, rights, security, impact assessments, incidents, vendors, and data exports.
- [China PIPL vs CCPA/CPRA: Requirements Compared](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/china-pipl-vs-ccpa-cpra.md): Compare PIPL and CCPA/CPRA scope, consent and opt-out rules, rights, assessments, data exports, breach duties, and penalties.
- [China PIPL vs Singapore PDPA: Requirements Compared](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/china-privacy-law-vs-singapore-pdpa.md): Compare PIPL and Singapore PDPA scope, roles, consent alternatives, rights, breach duties, overseas transfers, and penalties.
- [China Privacy Law FAQ](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq.md): Practical answers on China's PIPL: scope, legal bases, sensitive information, separate consent, vendors, PIPIA records, app minimization, and export routes.
- [How should vendor contracts handle entrusted processing under PIPL?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/how-should-vendor-contracts-handle-entrusted-processing.md): A PIPL entrusted-processing contract must define the purpose, duration, method, personal-information categories, safeguards, and both parties' duties. See the required terms and supporting records.
- [Is PIPL the same as GDPR?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/is-pipl-the-same-as-gdpr.md): No. China's PIPL and the EU GDPR overlap on core privacy controls, but differ in territorial scope, legal bases, roles, sensitive data, impact assessments, and transfer routes.
- [PIPL automated decision-making and personalized recommendations](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/automated-decision-making-and-personalized-recommendations.md): PIPL checks for automated decisions, personalized recommendations, marketing, differential treatment, explanations, refusal rights, and impact assessments.
- [PIPL breach response and notification](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/breach-response-and-notification.md): PIPL incident workflow for immediate remediation, authority and individual notices, the narrow individual-notice exception, vendor coordination, and evidence.
- [PIPL cross-border transfer route selector](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/pipl-cross-border-transfer-route-selector.md): Step-by-step selector for China's data-export exemptions, CAC security assessment, standard contract, and personal information protection certification.
- [PIPL entrusted processing and vendor contracts](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/entrusted-processing-and-vendor-contracts.md): How to document entrusted processing, vendor responsibilities, contract controls, and evidence under PIPL.
- [PIPL impact assessment template](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/personal-information-protection-impact-assessment-template.md): Template fields for a China personal information protection impact assessment and export/entrusted-processing evidence.
- [Sensitive personal information and separate consent under PIPL](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/sensitive-personal-information-and-separate-consent.md): How to identify sensitive PI triggers, separate consent, minors, additional safeguards, and evidence records.
- [What counts as sensitive personal information in China?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/what-counts-as-sensitive-personal-information-in-china.md): PIPL uses a harm-based test for sensitive personal information and lists examples such as biometrics, health, financial accounts, location traces, and all personal information of children under 14.
- [What is separate consent under PIPL?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/what-is-separate-consent-under-pipl.md): Separate consent under China's PIPL is a distinct consent for a specified processing activity. See when it applies, what notice must come first, and what evidence to keep.
- [What records should we keep for a PIPL impact assessment?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/what-records-should-we-keep-for-a-pipl-impact-assessment.md): A PIPL impact-assessment file should preserve the Article 55 trigger, processing facts, Article 56 analysis, safeguards, decision, and processing record for at least three years.
- [What should an app collect as necessary personal information in China?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/what-should-an-app-collect-as-necessary-personal-information.md): Match the app's basic function to China's 2021 rules and collect no more than the listed necessary personal information. Users must retain the basic function if they decline non-necessary data.
- [When can a company use the China standard contract route?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/when-can-a-company-use-the-china-standard-contract-route.md): Use China's standard contract route only after applying the 2024 exemptions and confirming that no CAC security assessment is required. See current thresholds, filing steps, and change triggers.
- [When does a China PIPL security assessment apply?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/when-does-a-china-pipl-security-assessment-apply.md): A CAC data export security assessment applies to CIIO exports, important data, and specified high-volume personal-information exports after the 2024 exemptions are applied.


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