As SaaS products scale across borders, understanding the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) of Singapore becomes essential—especially if your product collects or processes data from users based in Singapore.

This article breaks down the PDPA’s key principles and shows how Walla, a privacy-conscious form infrastructure, helps you operate safely and compliantly in Singapore.

1. What is Singapore’s PDPA?

Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) governs how organizations collect, use, disclose, and store personal data. The law applies to both local and foreign entities if they handle the personal data of individuals in Singapore.

The PDPA aims to:

• Safeguard individual rights and control over personal data

• Ensure organizations handle data responsibly and securely

• Regulate cross-border data transfers

2. Core Principles of the PDPA

2.1 Clear Notification and Consent

Before collecting personal data, organizations must:

• Inform users of the purpose, retention period, and any third-party sharing

• Obtain explicit consent from the individual

• Ensure consent is revocable and that services aren’t unfairly withheld if consent is denied

2.2 Cross-border Data Transfers

Data can be transferred outside Singapore only if:

• The receiving party offers comparable protection to Singapore’s PDPA

• Standard contractual clauses (SCCs) or similar agreements are in place

• The individual gives explicit consent after being informed of the risks

Simply using an overseas server (like AWS Tokyo or Seoul) is not enough—you must demonstrate equivalent protection measures.

2.3 Data Security and Deletion

• Organizations must protect data through technical and administrative safeguards

• Once the data is no longer necessary, it must be securely deleted

3. How Walla Helps You Stay PDPA-Compliant

Walla isn’t just a form builder—it’s a modular, API-first SaaS infrastructure built with privacy and compliance in mind.

3.1 Fixed Server Region Support

• You can store data in the Singapore AWS region

• Alternatively, choose another region and implement contractual protections (e.g. SCCs)

• Walla allows full control over where user data resides

3.2 Consent UI Components

• Collect purpose-specific consent with clear disclosure

• Customize fields to include data retention, sharing details, and processing logic

• Store consent logs for auditability

3.3 Encryption and Data Isolation

• Field-level encryption for sensitive data

• Segregated storage between personal identifiers and form responses

• Activity logs and deletion history available on request

3.4 User Rights Management

The PDPA grants individuals the right to:

4. Conclusion: Privacy Is the Foundation of Trust in Singapore

Singapore’s PDPA is not just a regulation—it’s a trust signal.

Users increasingly demand that software products respect their data and empower their rights.

With Walla, you can

• Launch forms and workflows in Singapore with confidence

• Comply with PDPA and cross-border rules by design

• Start small, but build with infrastructure ready for scale and scrutiny

Whether you’re building internal tools or public-facing data flows,

Walla helps you launch fast—without sacrificing compliance.

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