South Korea Proposes Stricter Data Rules for Autonomous Vehicles

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) of South Korea has announced a proposed amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Promotion and Support of Commercialization of Autonomous Vehicles. This revision aims to significantly enhance the safety and management protocols for video information collected by autonomous vehicles, ensuring robust data privacy and security as autonomous technology expands across the country.

This amendment follows a recent update to the main Autonomous Vehicle Act (Law No. 21482), which was promulgated on March 17, 2026, and is slated to take effect on June 18, 2026. The updated Act introduced mandates for technical and managerial measures to safeguard video information, established obligations for data destruction, and implemented penalties, including fines, for non-compliance. The proposed Enforcement Decree will now define the specific scope of video processing devices, outline requirements for establishing internal management plans for video data, and detail the necessary retention of access logs.

These detailed regulations are crucial for protecting sensitive personal information that autonomous vehicles may collect through their advanced cameras and sensors. By clearly defining comprehensive rules for data handling, from collection to secure destruction, the government seeks to foster public trust in autonomous driving technology while simultaneously facilitating its safe and responsible commercialization.

The public is encouraged to submit their feedback on the proposed amendment. Individuals, institutions, and organizations have until June 1, 2026, to provide their opinions. Comments can be submitted conveniently online through the Integrated Legislation Pre-announcement Center, accessible at http://opinion.lawmaking.go.kr.

Alternatively, written opinions can be submitted directly to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, specifically to the Autonomous Driving Policy Division. Submissions should include the sender’s name (or organization name and representative), address, telephone number, and specific opinions categorized by the proposed changes. For a comprehensive overview and further details regarding the draft amendment, interested parties can visit the MOLIT website at http://www.molit.go.kr, navigating to “Policy Materials → Legislation Information → Legislative Pre-announcement.”

Source: 법제처 — Original Article (Korean)