79 sections indexed, 24 with our notes. Our index and notes; the law itself is at its source: official text ↗

Chapter 1 Purpose, Scope of Application and Federal Supervisory Authority

Article 3

Territorial scope of application

3
Reach abroad. Applies to any circumstances that have an effect in Switzerland, even if initiated abroad; some foreign controllers must appoint a Swiss representative. Art. 3(1) (effects principle); Art. 14 (representative) · from a secondary source
2
Marketing. Opt-in for automated mass advertising (email, SMS), except to existing customers for similar products with an opt-out offered. Federal Act against Unfair Competition (UCA) Art. 3(1)(o) · from a secondary source
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Chapter 2, Section 1 General Provisions: Definitions and Principles

Article 6

Principles

1
Lawful basis. No closed list of bases; processing must follow the principles, and breaches are justified by consent, an overriding private or public interest, or law. Arts. 6, 30, 31 · from a secondary source
2
Consent. Where needed, consent must be voluntary, specific and informed; it must be express for sensitive data, high-risk profiling, and (federal bodies) profiling. Art. 6(6)-(7) · from a secondary source
2
Sensitive data. Sensitive data (incl. genetic, biometric, social assistance, criminal proceedings) needs express consent if relying on consent; disclosing it to third parties needs justification. Art. 5(c); Art. 6(7); Art. 30(2)(c) · from a secondary source
1
Retention. Destroy or anonymize personal data once it is no longer needed for its purpose; no statutory periods. Art. 6(4) · from a secondary source
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Article 10

Data protection officer

1
DPO required. Optional for private controllers; federal bodies must appoint a data protection advisor. Art. 10; FDPO Art. 25 · from a secondary source
1
DPO qualifications. The advisor must have the necessary expertise, act independently without instructions, and hold no conflicting duties. Art. 10(3) · from a secondary source
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Article 12

Record of processing activities

1
Registration. No registration for private controllers; federal bodies must report their processing activities to the FDPIC. Art. 12(4) · from a secondary source
2
Records. Controllers and processors must keep records; firms under 250 employees are exempt unless they process sensitive data at scale or do high-risk profiling. Art. 12; FDPO Art. 24 · from a secondary source
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Chapter 2, Section 2 General Provisions: Data Processing by Private Controllers with Registered Office or Domicile Abroad

Article 14

Representative

3
Reach abroad. Applies to any circumstances that have an effect in Switzerland, even if initiated abroad; some foreign controllers must appoint a Swiss representative. Art. 3(1) (effects principle); Art. 14 (representative) · from a secondary source
2
DPIA. Required where processing may pose a high risk; the FDPIC must be consulted if high residual risk remains. Keep the DPIA two years after processing ends. Arts. 22-23; FDPO Art. 14 · from a secondary source
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Chapter 2, Section 3 General Provisions: Cross-Border Disclosure of Personal Data

Article 16

Principles

2
Transfers abroad. Allowed to Federal Council-listed adequate countries; otherwise FDPIC-recognized SCCs, FDPIC-approved BCRs, or notified clauses; limited derogations such as explicit consent. Arts. 16-17; FDPO Annex 1 · from a secondary source
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Article 17

Exceptions

2
Transfers abroad. Allowed to Federal Council-listed adequate countries; otherwise FDPIC-recognized SCCs, FDPIC-approved BCRs, or notified clauses; limited derogations such as explicit consent. Arts. 16-17; FDPO Annex 1 · from a secondary source
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Chapter 3 Duties of the Controller and of the Processor

Article 21

Duty to provide information in the case of an automated individual decision

3
Rights. Access, rectification, deletion, restriction/prohibition of processing, objection, data portability, and a right to be heard on automated individual decisions. Arts. 21, 25, 28, 32 · from a secondary source
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Article 22

Data protection impact assessment

2
DPIA. Required where processing may pose a high risk; the FDPIC must be consulted if high residual risk remains. Keep the DPIA two years after processing ends. Arts. 22-23; FDPO Art. 14 · from a secondary source
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Article 23

Consultation of the FDPIC

2
DPIA. Required where processing may pose a high risk; the FDPIC must be consulted if high residual risk remains. Keep the DPIA two years after processing ends. Arts. 22-23; FDPO Art. 14 · from a secondary source
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Article 24

Notifications of data security breaches

2
Records. Controllers and processors must keep records; firms under 250 employees are exempt unless they process sensitive data at scale or do high-risk profiling. Art. 12; FDPO Art. 24 · from a secondary source
1
Tell the regulator. Notify the FDPIC as soon as possible of a breach likely to pose a high risk; no fixed hour deadline. Art. 24(1)-(2); FDPO Art. 15
2
Tell people. Inform data subjects when needed for their protection or when the FDPIC requests it, regardless of the high-risk threshold. Art. 24(4)-(5)
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Chapter 4 Rights of the Data Subject

Article 25

Right to information

3
Rights. Access, rectification, deletion, restriction/prohibition of processing, objection, data portability, and a right to be heard on automated individual decisions. Arts. 21, 25, 28, 32 · from a secondary source
2
Request deadline. 30 days for access requests, extendable with notice to the data subject. Art. 25(7); Art. 18 FDPO · from a secondary source
1
DPO required. Optional for private controllers; federal bodies must appoint a data protection advisor. Art. 10; FDPO Art. 25 · from a secondary source
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Article 28

Right to data portability

3
Rights. Access, rectification, deletion, restriction/prohibition of processing, objection, data portability, and a right to be heard on automated individual decisions. Arts. 21, 25, 28, 32 · from a secondary source
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Chapter 5 Special Provisions on Data Processing by Private Persons

Article 30

Breaches of personality rights

1
Lawful basis. No closed list of bases; processing must follow the principles, and breaches are justified by consent, an overriding private or public interest, or law. Arts. 6, 30, 31 · from a secondary source
2
Sensitive data. Sensitive data (incl. genetic, biometric, social assistance, criminal proceedings) needs express consent if relying on consent; disclosing it to third parties needs justification. Art. 5(c); Art. 6(7); Art. 30(2)(c) · from a secondary source
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Article 32

Legal rights

3
Rights. Access, rectification, deletion, restriction/prohibition of processing, objection, data portability, and a right to be heard on automated individual decisions. Arts. 21, 25, 28, 32 · from a secondary source
2
Private action. Data subjects can sue for injunctions, rectification or deletion, damages, moral damages and surrender of profits. Art. 32; Arts. 28-28l Civil Code · from a secondary source
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Chapter 6 Special Provisions on Data Processing by Federal Bodies

Chapter 7, Section 1 Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner: Organisation

Chapter 7, Section 2 Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner: Investigation of Violations of Data Protection Regulations

Chapter 7, Section 3 Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner: Administrative Assistance

Chapter 7, Section 4 Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner: Other Tasks of the FDPIC

Chapter 7, Section 5 Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner: Fees

Chapter 8 Criminal Provisions

Article 60

Violation of obligations to provide access and information or to cooperate

2
Maximum fine. Criminal fine up to CHF 250,000 per individual; a company can be fined up to CHF 50,000 when identifying the individual is disproportionate. Arts. 60-64 · from a secondary source
1
Criminal liability. Willful breaches of listed duties are criminal offenses, punished by fines of up to CHF 250,000 on responsible individuals. No imprisonment. Arts. 60-62, 64 · from a secondary source
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Article 61

Violation of duties of care

2
Maximum fine. Criminal fine up to CHF 250,000 per individual; a company can be fined up to CHF 50,000 when identifying the individual is disproportionate. Arts. 60-64 · from a secondary source
1
Criminal liability. Willful breaches of listed duties are criminal offenses, punished by fines of up to CHF 250,000 on responsible individuals. No imprisonment. Arts. 60-62, 64 · from a secondary source
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Article 62

Violation of the professional duty of confidentiality

2
Maximum fine. Criminal fine up to CHF 250,000 per individual; a company can be fined up to CHF 50,000 when identifying the individual is disproportionate. Arts. 60-64 · from a secondary source
1
Criminal liability. Willful breaches of listed duties are criminal offenses, punished by fines of up to CHF 250,000 on responsible individuals. No imprisonment. Arts. 60-62, 64 · from a secondary source
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Article 64

Corporate criminal liability

2
Maximum fine. Criminal fine up to CHF 250,000 per individual; a company can be fined up to CHF 50,000 when identifying the individual is disproportionate. Arts. 60-64 · from a secondary source
1
Criminal liability. Willful breaches of listed duties are criminal offenses, punished by fines of up to CHF 250,000 on responsible individuals. No imprisonment. Arts. 60-62, 64 · from a secondary source
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Chapter 9 Conclusion of International Treaties

Chapter 10 Final Provisions

Annexes Annexes

Start from the question. Pick a topic to see the sections of nFADP that deal with it, and how 39 laws compare on it.

This index, the topic tags and the notes are ours, scored on the published rubric. Headings marked "our heading" are our descriptions where the source has none. Always read the official text before acting. Not legal advice.

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