The Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) has been in force since 1 September 2023. Here you will find all articles – with explanations in plain language.

1. Chapter 1: Purpose, Scope of Application and Federal Supervisory Authority

   1. Art. 1Purpose
   2. Art. 2Personal and material scope of application
   3. Art. 3Territorial scope of application
   4. Art. 4Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner

2. Chapter 2: General Provisions

   Section 1: Definitions and Principles

   1. Art. 5Definitions
   2. Art. 6Principles
   3. Art. 7Data protection by design and data protection by default
   4. Art. 8Data security
   5. Art. 9Processing by processors
   6. Art. 10Data protection officer
   7. Art. 11Code of conduct
   8. Art. 12Record of processing activities
   9. Art. 13Certification

   Section 2: Data Processing by Private Controllers with Registered Office or Domicile Abroad

   1. Art. 14Representative
   2. Art. 15Duties of the representative

   Section 3: Cross-Border Disclosure of Personal Data

   1. Art. 16Principles
   2. Art. 17Exceptions
   3. Art. 18Publication of personal data in electronic form

3. Chapter 3: Duties of the Controller and of the Processor

   1. Art. 19Duty to provide information when collecting personal data
   2. Art. 20Exceptions from the duty to provide information and restrictions
   3. Art. 21Duty to provide information in the case of an automated individual decision
   4. Art. 22Data protection impact assessment
   5. Art. 23Consultation of the FDPIC
   6. Art. 24Notifications of data security breaches

4. Chapter 4: Rights of the Data Subject

   1. Art. 25Right to information
   2. Art. 26Limitations on the right to information
   3. Art. 27Limitation on the right to information for the media
   4. Art. 28Right to data portability
   5. Art. 29Restrictions on the right to data portability

5. Chapter 5: Special Provisions on Data Processing by Private Persons

   1. Art. 30Breaches of personality rights
   2. Art. 31Grounds for justification
   3. Art. 32Legal rights

6. Chapter 6: Special Provisions on Data Processing by Federal Bodies

   1. Art. 33Control and responsibility in the case of the joint processing of personal data
   2. Art. 34Legal basis
   3. Art. 35Automated data processing as part of pilot trials
   4. Art. 36Disclosure of personal data
   5. Art. 37Objecting to the disclosure of personal data
   6. Art. 38Offering documents to the Federal Archives
   7. Art. 39Data processing for purposes not related to specific persons
   8. Art. 40Private law activities by federal bodies
   9. Art. 41Rights and procedures
   10. Art. 42Procedure for disclosing official documents that contain personal data

7. Chapter 7: Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner

   Section 1: Organisation

   1. Art. 43Election and status
   2. Art. 44Term of office, re-election and termination of office
   3. Art. 44aReprimand
   4. Art. 45Budget
   5. Art. 46Incompatibility
   6. Art. 47Additional occupation
   7. Art. 47aRecusal
   8. Art. 48Self-regulation of the FDPIC

   Section 2: Investigation of Violations of Data Protection Regulations

   1. Art. 49Investigation
   2. Art. 50Powers
   3. Art. 51Administrative measures
   4. Art. 52Procedure
   5. Art. 53Coordination

   Section 3: Administrative Assistance

   1. Art. 54Administrative assistance between Swiss authorities
   2. Art. 55Administrative assistance for foreign authorities

   Section 4: Other Tasks of the FDPIC

   1. Art. 56Register
   2. Art. 57Information
   3. Art. 58Further tasks

   Section 5: Fees

   1. Art. 59Fees

8. Chapter 8: Criminal Provisions

   1. Art. 60Violation of the duty to provide information, the right to information and the duty to cooperate
   2. Art. 61Violation of duties of care
   3. Art. 62Violation of the professional duty of confidentiality
   4. Art. 63Disregard of decisions
   5. Art. 64Corporate criminal liability
   6. Art. 65Jurisdiction
   7. Art. 66Statute of limitations for prosecution

9. Chapter 9: Conclusion of International Treaties

   1. Art. 67Conclusion of International Treaties

10. Chapter 10: Final Provisions

    1. Art. 68Repeal and amendment of other legislation
    2. Art. 69Transitional provisions relating to ongoing instances of processing
    3. Art. 70Transitional provision relating to ongoing proceedings
    4. Art. 71Transitional provision relating to the data of legal entities
    5. Art. 72Transitional provision relating to the Commissioner's election and termination of office
    6. Art. 72aTransitional provision relating to the Commissioner’s employment contract
    7. Art. 73Coordination
    8. Art. 74Referendum and commencement