KSA PDPL » Saudi PDPL Article 14 – Personal Data Accuracy Obligation

Saudi PDPL Article 14 – Personal Data Accuracy Obligation

This article is verified from SDAIA
halaprivacy.com
Athif Mohammed
Published: June 30, 2025
Updated: January 10, 2026

Overview

Saudi Personal Data Protection Law (KSA PDPL) Article 14 establishes the Controller’s obligation to ensure that personal data is accurate, complete, up to date, and relevant before it is processed. The Controller must take sufficient steps to verify that the data collected or used aligns with the lawful purpose and complies with the requirements of the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL).

This Article safeguards the quality and reliability of personal data throughout the processing lifecycle.

SDAIA's Official PDPL Text

The text below reproduces official PDPL law, regulation, or guideline issued by the Saudi Data & AI Authority, verified against the original SDAIA source. No changes or reinterpretation applied.

Article 14

The Controller may not process Personal Data without taking sufficient steps to verify the Personal Data accuracy, completeness, timeliness and relevance to the purpose for which it is collected in accordance with the provisions of the Law.

Plain-Language PDPL Explanation

The explanation below is provided to help you understand the SDAIA’s legal text and does not replace or override the official PDPL law, regulation, or guideline.

Verify Accuracy And Relevance Before Processing

This provision requires the Controller to take sufficient steps to verify that personal data is accurate, complete, current, and relevant before processing it. The data must match the purpose for which it is collected and must comply with the Law.

The Controller must ensure that the information is factually correct and free from errors. The data must also include all necessary details and must not contain outdated or irrelevant content.

The provision ensures that personal data directly supports the lawful purpose and is not excessive or unnecessary.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Under the Saudi Personal Data Protection Law (KSA PDPL), who is responsible for keeping personal data accurate, the user or the business?

The Controller is responsible for keeping the data accurate, complete, and up to date for the purposes of processing. Users may help by providing updates, but the obligation sits with the Controller.

In e commerce, if a customer enters the wrong address, does Article 14 still require us to maintain accuracy?

Yes, you must still take reasonable steps to ensure accuracy before relying on the data. In practice, this can include confirming details or offering tools for customers to update information.

Yes, Article 14 expects the data to be kept accurate and up to date based on the purpose of processing. In HR, outdated data can affect payroll, benefits, and compliance, so timely updates matter.

Does Saudi PDPL Article 14 require businesses to verify every piece of data manually?

No, the requirement is to ensure accuracy relative to the processing purpose, not to manually verify everything. In practice, businesses often use periodic checks or automated prompts to maintain accuracy.

In fintech, do KYC updates fall under the Article 14 accuracy obligation?

Yes, because outdated or incomplete KYC data can affect the purpose for which it is processed. Maintaining accuracy is part of meeting PDPL obligations.

If we store old customer data “just in case,” does Article 14 consider that inaccurate processing?

It can, if the data is no longer accurate or needed for the active purpose. Article 14 ties accuracy to the purpose of processing, so storing outdated data without purpose raises compliance issues.

Are Processors responsible for ensuring accuracy, or only Controllers under KSA PDPL?

The primary obligation is on Controllers, but Processors must support accuracy by processing data according to the Controller’s documented instructions. The Controller remains the accountable party.

How often should a business review data accuracy under Saudi PDPL?

Article 14 does not prescribe timings, it simply requires accuracy appropriate to the purpose. In practice, organizations review accuracy when the purpose demands it, such as onboarding, renewals, or critical transactions.

In healthcare, can outdated medical information violate Article 14 accuracy obligations?

es, because inaccurate or incomplete health data directly affects the purpose of treatment. Article 14 expects accuracy appropriate to how the data is used.

Common misconception, “Accuracy only matters when we first collect the data.” Is that correct under Saudi PDPL?

No, Article 14 requires ongoing accuracy. Data can become outdated over time, and the obligation applies throughout the processing lifecycle.

If customer data is provided through a third party vendor, must we still ensure accuracy?

Yes, Article 14 applies regardless of the data source. The Controller must still ensure the data it uses is accurate for the intended purpose.

Does maintaining accuracy mean storing every historical version of the data?

No, accuracy is about keeping the current data correct for the processing purpose, not archiving every past version. Storing unnecessary historical data may actually create compliance risks.