The PDPA set out the obligations that organisations are required to comply with if they undertake activities relating to the collection, use or disclosure of personal data.

Among other things, organisations are required to obtain valid consent from the individual for a limited purpose that has been notified to the individual for the collection, use and disclosure of personal data of the individual, unless exceptions apply.

The Commission understands that some of the personal data may be publicly available. For example, details of property ownership may be obtained from documents readily available to the public, such as property title information that is made generally available to the public by the Land Titles Registry of the Singapore Land Authority. The disclosure of publicly available personal data would not require consent. Please refer to the Advisory Guidelines for the real estate agency sector for more information.

We further note that organisations such as real estate companies generally make use of publicly available data to send targeted letters and pamphlets to home owners for marketing purposes. Please refer to the quick link to the FAQs below for more information.