Data & Privacy · Argentina
Data protection & privacy laws in Argentina (2026)
Argentina shaded by its data & privacy status
Argentina has a comprehensive, generally-applicable data-protection regime grounded in Law 25.326 (enacted 2000) and reinforced by constitutional habeas data, supervised by an independent authority, the AAIP. It was the first Latin American country granted EU adequacy and remains confirmed as 'adequate' (most recently in the Commission's January 2024 review). Several bills to modernize the law along GDPR lines are pending in Congress as of 2026 but have not yet been enacted.
Key points
Law 25.326 provides integral protection of personal data held in public or private files/databases, guaranteeing rights to honor, privacy, and access to one's own data; it is the country's overarching, cross-sector regime.
The Agency for Access to Public Information (AAIP), an autonomous body with functional independence, is the enforcement authority; its National Directorate for Personal Data Protection (DNPDP) handles registration, supervision, and sanctions.
Controllers must obtain consent, observe purpose limitation and data quality/security, and respect rights of access, rectification, deletion and updating; sensitive data receives heightened protection. Registration of databases in the National Registry is required.
The DNPDP classifies infractions as mild, serious, or very serious; sanctions range from warnings and database suspension/closure to fines, with classification and graduation updated by AAIP Resolution 240/2022.
Argentina was the first Latin American country deemed 'adequate' by the European Commission; the Commission's first review (published 15 January 2024) confirmed continued adequacy, citing its accession to Convention 108/108+ and its independent supervisory authority, while recommending legislative codification of protections currently set at sub-legislative level.
Multiple bills to overhaul Law 25.326 (e.g., Carro 1948-D-2025, Doñate 644-S-2025, Yeza 1625-D-2026) are under debate in Congress, introducing accountability, privacy by design/default, data portability and rights against automated decisions; none had been enacted as of early 2026.
Timeline - major decisions & events
The data protection authority reopened a multisectoral dialogue process to update Law 25.326, reviewing critical points of its earlier draft amid three competing reform bills in Congress. Aims to align Argentina with GDPR/Convention 108+ as the EU has urged legislative modernization.
AAIP (Argentina.gob.ar) ↗Resolution 145/2025 launched a three-year program requiring federal agencies to adopt PDPL-aligned privacy policies, appoint and train data protection officers, and register all government databases. Signals a shift toward more proactive enforcement in the public sector.
Boletín Oficial ↗A bill in the Chamber of Deputies proposed AI-focused data rules including a National AI Registry, mandatory risk assessments for medium/high-risk systems, and audit powers. Reflects growing legislative attention to automated decision-making.
IAPP ↗Deputy Pablo Carro filed bill 1948-D-2025 (paralleled by Senator Doñate's S-644/2025) to overhaul the 25-year-old data protection law, adding accountability, privacy by design/default, data portability, breach notification (72h) and rights against automated decisions, modeled on GDPR.
Cámara de Diputados (HCDN) ↗The authority released a preliminary guide for public and private entities covering impact assessments, protection by design, explainability, bias testing and accountability across the AI lifecycle. Open for public comment until October 30, 2024.
AAIP (Argentina.gob.ar) ↗Resolution 126/2024 approved a reformed classification of infringements and graduated penalties under Law 25.326 and the 'No Llame' Law 26.951, effective June 1, 2024, unifying and modernizing the enforcement framework with a 50% discount for voluntary fine payment.
Boletín Oficial ↗Argentina - other topics
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