Data protection law in India and Vietnam: A discussion with Charmian Aw

The Asia-Pacific region is home to more than half the world's population - at 60% - with approximately 4.75 billion people. In recent years, India and Vietnam, to name just two, have enacted comprehensive data protection laws. Near the end of 2025, India finalized its highly anticipated regulations for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and Vietnam's Personal Data Protection Law became effective on the first of January this year. Hogan Lovells Partner Charmian Aw has long practiced in the region, specializing in APAC data protection, privacy, AI governance and cybersecurity law and offers developments of the region in the IAPP's Asia-Pacific Dashboard Digest. She also joined the IAPP Publications Advisory Board this year. While attending the UK Data Protection Intensive in London, IAPP Editorial Director Jedidiah Bracy sat down with Charmian Aw to discuss the latest developments in the region, specifically regarding India and Vietnam. Here's what she had to say.