Administrative Measures for Protecting Personal Data in Saudi Law An Analytical and Practical Study

Abstract

This research evaluates Saudi Arabia's efforts in protecting personal data, with a focus on the steps taken in alignment with Vision 2030. The study addresses the Kingdom's adoption of advanced administrative measures for personal data protection, which surpasses many other countries, thus warranting academic exploration. Additionally, the diversity of protection measures necessitates an in-depth clarification of their interplay. The significance of this research lies in highlighting the supervisory role of the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (SDAIA) in overseeing personal data protection measures, as well as clarifying its relationship with entities involved in data control and implementation. The study aims to define the legal concept of personal data, determine its legal nature, outline forms of legal protection, and explore the distinctions between administrative protection and other legal protections provided by Saudi law. Furthermore, the research identifies administrative violations of the right to privacy concerning personal data and investigates administrative accountability for breaches. The findings reveal that Saudi Arabia has established a robust legal framework for protecting personal data, adhering to privacy policies, assigning responsibility to entities for data handling, processing, and supervision, and enforcing penalties for violations. The study also includes practical applications through both domestic and international cases.