Lead generation is the engine of your business growth in Singapore. Every form submission, webinar registration, and content download fuels your sales pipeline. But is that engine running compliantly?

A single misstep in how you collect, use, or store the personal data of your leads can lead to significant fines from Singapore's Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) and, even worse, a permanent loss of customer trust.1

This is not a legal document. It's a practical checklist for marketers, sales leaders, and business owners. Use it to audit your current lead generation process—from your website forms to your follow-up emails—and identify any potential compliance gaps under the PDPA.

The PDPA Lead Generation Checklist

1. Notification: Are You Clearly Stating Why You're Collecting Data?

• Why this matters (The Purpose Limitation Obligation): The PDPA requires you to inform individuals of the purpose for which their personal data is being collected, used, and disclosed at or before the time of collection.2 A user should never have to guess what you're going to do with their email address.

• How to get to 'Yes': Your lead generation form must have a clear, visible statement explaining its purpose.

  • Good Example: At the top of an ebook download form: "Enter your email below to receive the ebook. We will also send you our monthly industry insights newsletter, from which you can unsubscribe at any time. For more details, please see our [Data Protection Policy]."

2. Consent: Are You Getting Explicit, "Opt-In" Permission for Marketing?

• Why this matters (The Consent Obligation): You must obtain consent to use personal data.3 For sending marketing messages, this consent must be explicit.4 Pre-checked boxes, bundling consent into your main Terms & Conditions, or assuming consent are major compliance risks.5

• How to get to 'Yes': Your form must include a separate, unchecked checkbox for marketing consent. This is non-negotiable.

  • Good Example: I would like to receive marketing updates, special offers, and news from [Your Company].

  • Pro-Tip: Walla Form makes it simple to add this mandatory, unchecked field to any form.

3. Collection: Are You Only Asking for What You Really Need?

• Why this matters (The Data Minimization Principle): The PDPA states you should only collect personal data that is adequate and relevant for the purposes you've stated.

• How to get to 'Yes': Review your lead forms. If your goal is to send a newsletter, do you really need a phone number, company size, and job title? A heavy form can decrease conversion rates and increase your compliance burden. Keep your forms lean and collect only what is necessary for the initial interaction.

4. Security: Is the Data Protected from the Moment a User Hits "Submit"?

• Why this matters (The Protection Obligation): Your organization is responsible for making "reasonable security arrangements" to protect the data you collect from the moment it enters your system.

• How to get to 'Yes': The form builder you use must, at a minimum, provide end-to-end encryption. This means the data is encrypted in transit (using HTTPS) and encrypted at rest (when stored in the database). This is a fundamental technical safeguard.

5. International Transfers: Do You Know Where Your Lead Data is Stored?

• Why this matters (The Transfer Limitation Obligation): This is the biggest and most overlooked risk for companies in Singapore using global SaaS tools. You cannot transfer personal data outside Singapore unless the recipient country has a comparable level of data protection. The US, where most SaaS data is stored by default, is not considered a comparable jurisdiction.

• How to get to 'Yes': The simplest, safest, and most straightforward way to comply is to store the data in Singapore.

  • The Walla Form Solution: Walla Form’s dedicated Singapore data region solves this problem entirely. By choosing to store your form data in Singapore, you avoid triggering the complex Transfer Limitation Obligation, giving you and your legal team complete peace of mind.

How Did You Score?

If you confidently checked 'yes' to all five questions, congratulations! You have a robust and compliant lead generation process. If you hesitated on any point, now is the perfect time to strengthen your approach.

PDPA compliance isn't a barrier; it's a framework for building high-quality, trust-based relationships with your future customers. A compliant lead generation process doesn't just protect you from fines—it proves to your leads that you respect them, leading to better engagement and a stronger brand.

Disclaimer: This checklist provides general guidance and is not a substitute for legal advice. Please consult with a qualified legal professional to ensure your business practices are fully compliant with Singapore's PDPA.