Guidance

Privacy notice for UK government sanctions email alerts

Published 26 March 2026

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/privacy-notice-for-uk-government-sanctions-email-alert-subscription-service/privacy-notice-for-uk-government-sanctions-email-alerts

This privacy notice explains how we use your personal data when you subscribe to email alerts about UK government sanctions. It tells you:

  • who we are
  • what personal data we collect and how we collect it
  • how we use your data
  • who we share your data with and why
  • our lawful basis for using your data
  • how long we keep your data
  • your rights
  • how to contact us or make a complaint

Who we are

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) pursues our national interests and projects the UK as a force for good in the world. We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK’s security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners.

To provide services such as this email alert system, we need to collect and use personal data.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH

Email: fcdo.correspondence@fcdo.gov.uk

What data we collect and how

When you subscribe to this service, we collect the following personal data:

Required data

  • your email address

Optional data

  • sector
  • region

We do not collect any special category data. You do not have to provide optional information.

How we use your data

We use your personal data to send you email alerts about changes to UK government sanctions or specific sanctions topics.

We hold data in the UK or the US. Any transfer to the US is covered by the UK Extension to the EU-US Data Privacy Framework.

Why we collect your data

We collect your email address so we can provide the subscription service and send you the alerts you have signed up for.

Who we share your data with

This alert service is jointly operated by the FCDO with:

  • the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), HM Treasury
  • the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI)
  • the Export Joint Control Unit (ECJU), Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

We share your data only with relevant staff in these organisations, and with our technology suppliers who support this service. Our main external supplier is Granicus, who act as a data processor.

We may also share your data if required by law, by a court order, or to prevent fraud or other crime. We will always share data in line with data protection law.

Our lawful basis for processing

Our lawful basis for processing your personal data is legitimate interests under Article 6(1)(f) of the UK GDPR.
We only use your data for the purposes for which it was collected. If we need to use it for a different purpose, we will tell you and explain the legal basis that allows this.

How long we keep your data

We keep your personal data while you are subscribed to the service.
You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in each alert or at:

https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKORGESO/subscriber/unsubscribe

If you unsubscribe, we keep your data for 12 months and then delete it.

Your rights

You have the following rights over your personal data:

  • to be informed about how we use your data
  • to access your data (known as a Subject Access Request) — email information.rights@fcdo.gov.uk
  • to correct inaccurate data or complete incomplete data
  • to request deletion of your data, in certain circumstances
  • to restrict processing of your data, in certain circumstances
  • to data portability, in certain circumstances
  • to object to how we use your data, in certain circumstances
  • to challenge automated decisions, including profiling

For more information, see the ICO’s guide to individual rights.

Contact us

If you have questions about this notice or think your personal data has been misused, contact the FCDO Data Protection Officer:

Data Protection Officer
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH

Email: data.protection@fcdo.gov.uk

Make a complaint

You can also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Website: https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint

Changes to this notice

We may update this privacy notice at any time. When we do, we will change the ‘last modified’ date. Please review it regularly to stay informed about how we protect your data.

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