ASEAN: Digital Ministers adopted guide on Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Ibero-American Data Protection Network model contractual clauses

On 17 January 2025, during the 5th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Digital Ministers adopted the joint mapping guide on the ASEAN model contractual clauses (MCCs) and Ibero-American Data Protection Network (RIPD) MCCs. The guide aims to help organisations navigate cross-border data transfer agreements. The ASEAN MCCs, developed to harmonise data protection practices across Southeast Asia, offer a standardised contractual framework ensuring compliance with regional privacy regulations. Similarly, the RIPD MCCs aim to establish uniformity in data protection standards across Ibero-American countries (countries in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal). The guide highlights key similarities and differences between the two frameworks, making it easier for companies to adapt their contractual obligations when transferring or receiving personal data between these regions. As a result, organisations already familiar with the ASEAN MCCs can streamline negotiations with RIPD partners. ensuring agreements are compliant and mutually understood.