New Law to Strengthen Data Protection Policies in Chile

The bill greatly increases the right of citizens who are now allowed to participate in how their personal data is collected, stored, and used. Users can now demand to be informed of the full extent of personal data collected, and have the right to ask for corrections or suppressions of sensitive or inaccurate data. Specific norms on sensitive data protection and the international transfer of personal data have been given special attention to protect users. None of the rights included in the law can be renounced or limited by contract.

The new data protection agency will be in charge of the oversight of all the rights contained in the law, and will carry out the service free of charge. 

Latin America is particularly sensitive to data breaches due to the lack of legislative initiative in the region. According to Privacy and Data Protection Specialist at Cetip, Renato Leite Monteiro, some countries have tried to protect users by enacting general laws. Countries such as Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela have some overall previsions on the matter. Nevertheless, Leite Monteiro explained that countries like Brazil “still provide protection with sectoral laws, leaving gaps that are filled by dubious private and public interests.”

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