ASEAN Guide on Data Anonymisation among three guides unveiled at ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting 2025

26 February 2025

On 17 January 2025, the Personal Data Protection Commission (“PDPC”) issued a press release highlighting the launch of three guides during the 5th ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting, held on 16 and 17 January 2025.

One of the guides is the ASEAN Guide on Data Anonymisation (“DA Guide”) which provides information and guidance on basic data anonymisation concepts and techniques. Targeting policy makers, regulators and industry organisations in ASEAN, there are three main parts in the DA Guide:

  • Part 1 outlines the purpose and scope of the DA Guide, the benefits of anonymisation, and the data protection landscape in ASEAN.
  • Part 2 discusses key concepts and terminology in data anonymisation and describes typical scenarios for anonymisation.
  • Part 3 provides an overview of anonymisation techniques before setting out key anonymisation steps that can be adopted as part of the anonymisation process.

While data anonymisation is not necessarily a specific legal requirement under many data protection laws in ASEAN, practising data anonymisation can assist in the protection of personal data, facilitate compliance with applicable data protection laws, and provide additional benefits (e.g. safe sharing and collaboration using data from individuals).

Another guide which was announced is the Joint Guide to ASEAN Model Contractual Clauses (“MCCs”) and Ibero-American Data Protection Network (“RIPD”) MCCs (“MCC Guide”). Organisations looking to transfer or receive personal data from overseas partners may refer to the MCC Guide for a comparison between the ASEAN MCCs and the RIPD MCC. Companies already familiar with the ASEAN MCCs can use the MCC Guide as a reference in their contractual negotiations on data transfers with their RIPD business partners.

Finally, the Expanded ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics - Generative AI (“AI Guide”) was also announced. The AI Guide supplements the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics (2024), which focuses on traditional AI technologies, with policy considerations relevant to generative AI (“Gen AI”). It discusses opportunities and risks provided by Gen AI and recommends a range of suggested policy actions that ASEAN can consider in fostering responsible adoption. There are also examples of how some policy recommendations can be implemented with four detailed use cases from the region, featuring public and private institutions in ASEAN that have taken steps to implement practices aligned with AI governance and ethics.

Reference materials 

The following materials are available on the PDPC website www.pdpc.gov.sg and the ASEAN website www.asean.org: