Personal Data Protection Act 2010 · Updated to 15 Sep 2026 · Part IX · Enforcement
118. Release of computer, book, account, etc., seized
Feedback & supportIf any computer, book, account, computerized data or other document, signboard, card, letter, pamphlet, leaflet, notice, equipment, instrument or article has been seized under this
Act, the authorized officer who effected the seizure may, after referring to the Public Prosecutor, release the computer, book, account, computerized data or other document, signboard, card, letter, pamphlet, leaflet, notice, equipment, instrument or article to the person as he determines to be lawfully entitled to it, if the computer, book, account, computerized data or other document, signboard, card, letter, pamphlet, leaflet, notice, equipment, instrument or article is not liable to forfeiture under this Act, and is not otherwise required for the purpose of any proceedings under this Act or for the purpose of any prosecution under any other written law, and in such event neither the authorized officer effecting the seizure, nor the Federal Government, Commissioner or any person acting on behalf of the Federal Government or
Commissioner shall be liable to any proceedings by any person if the seizure and the release of the computer, book, account, computerized data or other document, signboard, card, letter, pamphlet, leaflet, notice, equipment, instrument or article had been effected in good faith.
Commissioner
“Commissioner” means the Personal Data Protection Commissioner appointed under section 47;
Personal Data Protection 83
personal data
“personal data” means any information in respect of commercial transactions, which— (a) is being processed wholly or partly by means of equipment operating automatically in response to instructions given for that purpose; (b) is recorded with the intention that it should wholly or partly be processed by means of such equipment; or (c) is recorded as part of a relevant filing system or with the intention that it should form part of a relevant filing system, that relates directly or indirectly to a data subject, who is identified or identifiable from that information or from that and other information in the possession of a data user, including any sensitive personal data and expression of opinion about the data subject; but does not include any information that is processed for the purpose of a credit reporting business carried on by a credit reporting agency under the Credit Reporting Agencies Act 2010;
A record in writing shall be made by the authorized officer effecting the release of the computer, book, account, computerized data or other document, signboard, card, letter, pamphlet, leaflet, notice, equipment, instrument or article under subsection (1)
specifying in detail the circumstances of and the reason for the release, and he shall send a copy of the record to the Public
Prosecutor within seven days of the release.