Data protection for private individuals in Switzerland

Art. 9 DPO

Data protection clauses and specific guarantees

Chapter 1: General ProvisionsSection 3: Disclosure of Personal Data Abroad

Statutory textStatus: 1 December 2025

1 The data protection clauses in an agreement under Article 16 paragraph 2 letter b FADP and the specific guarantees under Article 16 paragraph 2 letter c FADP must include at least the following points:

  • a.

    the requirement to apply the principles of legality, good faith, proportionality, transparency, purpose limitation and accuracy;

  • b.

    the categories of personal data disclosed and of data subjects;

  • c.

    the manner and purpose of the disclosure of personal data;

  • d.

    if applicable, the names of the countries or international organisations, in which personal data is to be disclosed and the requirements for disclosure;

  • e.

    the requirements for safeguarding, deleting and destroying personal data;

  • f.

    the recipients or the categories of recipients;

  • g.

    the measures to guarantee data security;

  • h.

    the requirement to report breaches of data security;

  • i.

    if the recipients are controllers: the requirement to inform the data subjects about the processing;

  • j.

    the rights of data subjects, and in particular:

    • 1.

      the right of access and the right to the data portability,

    • 2.

      the right to object to the disclosure of personal data,

    • 3.

      the right to the correction, deletion or destruction of their data,

    • 4.

      the right to request an independent authority for judicial protection.

2 The controller and, in the case of data protection clauses in an agreement, the processor must take appropriate measures to ensure that the recipient complies with these clauses or the specific guarantees.

3 If the FDPIC is informed about the data protection clauses in an agreement or the specific guarantees, the duty to provide information is deemed fulfilled for all further disclosures that:

  • a.

    are made in accordance with the same data protection clauses or guarantees, provided the categories of recipients, purpose of processing and data categories essentially remain unchanged; or

  • b.

    take place within the same legal entity or company or between company that belong to the same group of companies.

Source: Version on FedlexThis translation is not an official version. Only the German, French and Italian versions are legally binding.

In brief

If data is disclosed to a State without adequate data protection, data protection clauses in a contract or specific guarantees can ensure protection (Art. 16 para. 2 FADP). They must cover certain minimum points, such as the processing principles, data security, the reporting of data security breaches and the rights of data subjects, for example the right of access.

What does this mean for me?

This obligation is aimed at companies and authorities. For you, it means: if your data goes to such a State, your rights must be safeguarded by contract.

Implements these provisions of the Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP)

  1. Art. 16 FADPPrinciples

Explanation by mydatenschutz.ch in plain language – not legal advice. The statutory text is authoritative.