How Can Companies Dispose of Documents Containing Personal Data?

Before throwing unwanted documents into the bin, think again.
Did you know that companies are legally obliged under the Personal Data Protection Act (“PDPA”) to properly dispose of documents containing personal data, and may be penalised if they fail to do so?
Read on to find out more.
Do Your Company’s Documents Contain “Personal Data”?
The PDPA defines “personal data” very broadly. Under the PDPA, personal data refers to data from which an individual can be identified.
Accordingly, information such as a person’s name, identification number and even height and gender may be regarded as personal data. It does not matter that such data may be false.
Obligation to Protect Personal Data
Under the PDPA, companies are required to make “reasonable security arrangements” to protect personal data in their possession or control from:
- Unauthorised access;
- Collection;
- Use;
- Disclosure;
- Copying;
- Modification;
- Disposal; or
- Other similar risks.
This obligation applies even to the disposal of documents, so long as the documents contain personal data.
Methods of Disposing of Documents Containing Personal Data
Personal data can be contained in 2 main forms:
- Physical documents: e.g. paper; and
- Electronic media: e.g. hard disks, CDs and DVDs.
Companies are required to implement policies and measures to ensure that personal data is properly disposed of, according to the form it is contained in.
How to dispose of personal data in physical documents
The Personal Data Protection Commission (“PDPC”), which administers and enforces the PDPA, recommends disposing of physical documents through one (or a combination) of the following methods:
- Shredding: Shredding is the most commonly-used method as it is fast, safe and cost-effective. It involves cutting the physical document into pieces to make it difficult (or almost impossible) to put back together. Straight-cut shredders are not recommended as they merely cut paper into long strips. The PDPC is of the view that companies should, at the minimum, use level P-3 cross-cut shredders which cut paper into small pieces with a maximum area of 320 mm2, according to the internationally-referenced DIN 66399 security standard.
- Incineration: Burning physical documents into ashes.
- Pulping: Mixing physical documents with water and chemicals to break down the documents’ paper fibres.
These methods of disposal can be carried out in-house by the company itself, or by engaging an external service provider. However, companies should not leave documents containing personal data unattended while waiting for external service providers to collect them, such as leaving them at the office’s rear entrance or the ground floor of the building. This is to prevent unauthorised third-parties from gaining access to the documents’ contents.
It also goes without saying that simply throwing physical documents into the rubbish bin is not sufficient. The PDPC has fined a financial consultant $1,000 for failing to properly dispose of his clients’ policy-related documents. This was in view of how:
- The financial consultant had merely put the documents in a plastic bag, tied it up and placed it in a rubbish bin in a residential estate;
- The plastic bag did not have the effect of securing the documents, but merely concealed them; and
- The documents were unshredded and intact, and it was easy for others to open the plastic bag to retrieve the documents inside (and the personal data on them).
How to dispose of personal data stored on electronic media
Personal data in electronic media can be disposed of in 2 ways:
- Physical destruction of the media itself to render stored data inaccessible: e.g. cutting up CDs and DVDs, or smashing hard disks with a hammer until they no longer work (and cannot be repaired); or
- Disposal of the personal data in the media only: Specialised software tools can be used to securely erase all personal data contained in the media. Deleting files by simply moving them to the computer’s “Recycle Bin” is insufficient as the files may still be recoverable (even after the “Recycle Bin” has been emptied).
Companies are free to choose their preferred method(s) of disposal, so long as the personal data contained in the medium cannot be recovered in part or full.
Companies’ Liability for Acts of Employees
Companies should take appropriate measures to ensure that employees to adhere to company policies on disposing documents containing personal data. This is because companies are liable for their employees’ breaches of the PDPA if these breaches occurred in the course of the employee’s employment with the company.
This is even if the company hadn’t approved of the employee’s acts, or didn’t even know of them in the first place.
However, companies may be able to avoid liability if they can prove that they had taken steps, as were practicable, to prevent the employees in breach from improperly disposing of documents containing personal data.
Engagement of External Service Providers
Engaging external service providers to dispose of documents containing personal data does not relieve companies of their obligation under the PDPA to protect personal data.
The responsibility ultimately remains with companies themselves to ensure that personal data on documents are protected until they are properly destroyed.
—
The disposal of documents containing personal data is not as simple as you may think. It is every company’s responsibility to ensure that it has implemented adequate measures and policies for disposing of documents containing personal data, so as to avoid breaching its obligation under the PDPA to protect personal data.
If you require legal advice on drafting and implementing policies on the proper disposal of company documents containing personal data, feel free to get in touch with one of our data protection lawyers.
- What is a Nominee Director, How to Appoint and Other FAQs
- Independent Directors: Who are They and What is Their Role?
- Board of Advisors: Who Are They and What Is Their Role?
- Appointing Company Directors in Singapore: Eligibility, Process etc.
- Managing Director vs CEO in Singapore: Roles and Obligations
- Guide to Directors' Remuneration in Singapore
- Directors' Duties in Singapore
- Shadow Directors: Who are They and What Duties Do They Owe to the Company?
- How to Remove a Director from a Company in Singapore
- Removal and Resignation of Company Auditor in Singapore
- Appointing a Company Secretary: Roles and Responsibilities
- Appointing an Authorised Representative for Foreign Companies in Singapore
- Process Agents in Singapore
- Share Buybacks in Singapore: Procedure, Cost and More
- How to Split Shares (or Stocks) in a Singapore Company
- 2 Ways to Remove a Singapore Company Shareholder ASAP
- What are Treasury Shares? Guide for Singapore Companies
- Guide to Paid-Up Capital in Singapore (Is $1 Enough?)
- Preparing a Register of Shareholders for a Singapore Company
- How to Issue Shares in a Singapore Private Company
- Guide to Transferring Shares in a Singapore Private Company
- Your Guide to Share Certificates in Singapore: Usage and How to Prepare
- Shareholder Rights in Singapore Private Companies
- Shareholder Roles and Obligations in Singapore Companies
- Dividend Payments Guide for Singapore Business Owners
- Share Transmission: What Happens If a Shareholder Dies in Singapore?
- How to Reduce the Share Capital of Your Singapore Company
- Buy-Sell Agreements: How to Write & Fund Them in Singapore
- Oppression of Minority Shareholders
- Is Your Business Collaboration Competition Law-Compliant?
- Explained: Registered Filing Agent for Singapore Businesses
- Transfer Pricing Obligations of Singapore Companies
- Adhering to Trading Sanctions and Restrictions in Singapore
- Cyber Hygiene Compliance Guide for Singapore Companies
- Corporate Social Responsibility For Businesses in Singapore
- Essential Regulatory Compliance Guide for Singapore Companies
- Dormant Companies and Their Filing Obligations in Singapore
- Anti-Money Laundering Regulations and Your Business: What You Need to Know
- Price-Fixing, Bid-Rigging and Other Anti-Competitive Practices to Avoid
- Legally Conducting Lucky Draws for Singapore Businesses
- Restaurant Inspection and Food Safety Rules in Singapore
- Does Your Company Need a Legal Team (In-House Counsel)?
- Acqui-Hiring of Singapore Companies: How Does It Work?
- How to Change the Name of Your Singapore Company
- Can Directors be Liable for Company Debts in Singapore?
- Company Loans to Directors/Shareholders in Singapore
- 3 Types of Insurance Every Singapore Business Needs
- Creating and Registering Charges in Singapore: Guide for Companies
- Guide to Effective Business Continuity Planning in Singapore
- Business Asset Sale & Disposal in Singapore: How Do They Work?
- Business Partnership Disputes in Singapore: How to Resolve
- How to Commence a Derivative Action on Behalf of a Company in Singapore
- Business Will: How to Pass on Your Business to Your Successors in Singapore
- Record-Keeping Requirements for Singapore Companies
- Company Constitutions in Singapore and How to Draft One
- Company Memorandum and Articles of Association
- Company Resolutions: What are They?
- Board Resolutions in Singapore
- Minutes of Company Meeting in Singapore: How to Record
- How to Set Up a Register of Controllers
- How to Set Up a Register of Nominee Directors
- Guide to Filing Financial Statements for Singapore Business Owners
- Filing Annual Returns For Your Business
- Carbon Tax in Singapore: What is the Rate and Who Must Pay?
- Laws and Penalties for GST Evasion in Singapore
- 6 Common Taxes in Singapore For Individuals & Businesses
- Singapore Corporate Tax: How to Pay, Tax Rate, Exemptions
- Start-Up Tax Exemption Guide for New Singapore Companies
- GST Registration: Requirements and Procedure in Singapore
- What is Withholding Tax and When to Pay It in Singapore
- Singapore Influencers: Here's How to Calculate Your Income Tax
- Tax Investigation of Tax-Evading Business Owners in Singapore
- Small Business Accounting Services in Singapore
- Company Audits in Singapore: Requirements and Exemptions
- Suspect a PDPA Data Breach? Here's What to Do Next
- Must You Notify PDPC About a Data Breach in Your Business?
- Data Room: Should Your Singapore Company Set Up One?
- Victim of a Data Breach? Here’s What You Can Do
- Summary: Your Organisation's 10 Main PDPA Obligations
- Essential PDPA Compliance Guide for Singapore Businesses
- PDPA Consent Requirements: How Can Your Business Comply?
- Is It Legal for Businesses to Ask for Your NRIC in Singapore?
- Here's a 7-Step Plan for Companies to Prevent Unauthorised Disclosure When Processing and Sending Personal Data
- Cloud Storage of Personal Data: Your Business’ Data Protection Obligations
- Drafting a Comprehensive Privacy Policy For Your Singapore Website
- GDPR Compliance in Singapore: Is it Required and How to Comply
- Appointing a Data Protection Officer For Your Business: All You Need to Know
- How Can Companies Dispose of Documents Containing Personal Data?
- Check the Do-Not-Call Registry Before Marketing to Singapore Phone Numbers
- How to Legally Install CCTVs for Home/Business Use in Singapore
- Is Web Scraping or Crawling Legal in Singapore?
- Legal Options If Employees Breach Confidentiality in Singapore
- Social Media Marketing: Legal Guide for Singapore Businesses
- Your Guide to E-commerce Website Terms of Service in Singapore
- Dealing with Defamation of Your Business: Can You Sue?
- Sending Email Newsletters That Comply With Singapore Law
- A legal guide to drafting a social media policy for your company
- Your Guide to a Media Release Form in Singapore
- Your Guide to an Influencer Marketing Agreement in Singapore
- Outdoor Advertising: How to Legally Display Public Ads in Singapore
- A Guide to Digital Bank Regulation in Singapore
- Applying for a Major Payment Institution Licence in Singapore
- Applying to the MAS FinTech Regulatory Sandbox
- Payment Services Act Licensing Guide for Fintech Businesses
- How to Get a Payment Service Provider Licence in Singapore
- Financial Adviser's Licence Guide for Singapore Businesses
- Capital Markets (CMS) Licence Requirements in Singapore
- How to Offer E-Wallet Services in Singapore: Licensing Guide
- Digital Payment Token Services Licence Guide in Singapore
- How to Legally Offer Crypto Services in Singapore
- How to Restore a Struck-Off Company in Singapore
- Claw-Back of Assets From Unfair Preference and Undervalued Transactions
- Should You Save or Close Your Zombie Company in Singapore?
- Voluntary Suspension of Business in Singapore: How to Handle
- Winding Up a Singapore Company: Grounds and Procedure
- Closing Your Singapore Business: What You Need to Settle
- Striking Off a Company
- Restoring a Company That was Struck Off Without You Knowing
- Dissolution of partnerships in Singapore
- What Should a Creditor Do When a Company Becomes Insolvent?
- How to File a Proof of Debt Against a Company in Liquidation
- Validation of Payments Made by Companies Being Wound Up