The Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF) is INTERPOL’s independent supervisory body, established under Article 36 of INTERPOL’s Constitution. It operates separately from the General Secretariat and is mandated to ensure that INTERPOL’s data processing complies with the organisation’s rules — in particular, its Statute on the Processing of Data (SPD). The CCF is not an appeals court and does not function as INTERPOL’s legal department; it is an oversight body that examines whether member countries and the Secretariat have adhered to binding data protection standards when issuing, maintaining, or circulating notices and diffusions.

The CCF handles a broad range of requests: individuals may ask it to verify whether personal data is held in INTERPOL’s databases, request corrections or deletions, challenge the lawfulness of Red Notices, Diffusions, and other circulation measures, or seek revision of earlier CCF decisions. The Commission meets four times per year and currently operates with approximately 15 staff members. In 2025, INTERPOL’s member states approved a budget increase bringing the CCF’s operational allocation to roughly €4 million — an acknowledgment that the body receives over 2,500 new requests annually and that processing times for contested cases have historically extended to 18–24 months.

Until 26 March 2026, all requests to the CCF were submitted by email or physical mail. That approach created structural delays: requests had to be manually registered, files assembled, and parties contacted through slow communication loops. Backlogs of 18–24 months were not uncommon for complex or contested cases.

The CCF Portal, launched on 26 March 2026 at 10:00 CET, replaces the old system entirely. It is a secure, web-based platform hosted by INTERPOL that allows individuals and their authorised legal representatives to submit requests, upload documents, receive decisions, and communicate with the CCF — all within a single managed interface. From that date onward, INTERPOL no longer accepts CCF requests by email or postal mail, except in exceptional circumstances expressly covered by Rule 25(2) of the CCF Rules on the Processing of Data. If you submitted a request before 26 March 2026 by email, you may be required to re-register it through the portal.

The portal supports four categories of request, each with its own guided submission workflow. Access requests let you determine whether INTERPOL holds data about you, in what databases, and in what form. Correction requests allow you to fix inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated information in INTERPOL’s files. Deletion requests seek removal of data on grounds of unlawfulness, political motivation, disproportionality, or non-compliance with INTERPOL’s rules. Revision requests ask the CCF to reconsider a prior decision if new facts, evidence, or legal arguments have emerged since the original ruling. There are no fees for any of these request types. The portal is available to individuals worldwide and to lawyers acting as authorised representatives.

The portal guides applicants through the submission process using structured forms and direct document upload. Below is a practical overview of how a typical submission proceeds from registration to decision tracking.

Access the CCF Portal through INTERPOL’s official website. You will be required to register with a valid email address and create a secure account. If you are a lawyer submitting on behalf of a client, you register as an authorised representative and will need to provide proof of mandate at the document upload stage.

Once logged in, you select the category of request: access, correction, deletion, or revision. The portal presents the applicable rules and document requirements for each type before you begin, so you can verify in advance that you have the necessary materials to support your submission.

Depending on the request type, you will typically need to provide proof of identity (passport or national ID), any prior correspondence or decisions from INTERPOL or member state authorities, documentation supporting your legal arguments (court judgments, acquittals, evidence of political persecution, or similar), and — where a lawyer is acting on your behalf — a power of attorney or mandate letter. Documents are uploaded directly within the portal; there is no requirement to send physical copies by post.

After submission, the portal assigns a case reference number and provides a status tracking interface. You can monitor the progress of your request, receive notifications when the CCF requires additional information or clarification, and access decisions and correspondence through the portal’s secure messaging system. This replaces the informal email chains that previously made case management difficult for both applicants and the CCF Secretariat.

The CCF accepts requests from any individual who believes that INTERPOL holds data concerning them, regardless of nationality or country of residence. There is no requirement to prove in advance that a notice exists — an access request can be used precisely to establish whether INTERPOL’s databases contain your personal data and under what classification.

Requests may be submitted directly by the individual concerned, or by an authorised representative. In practice, the majority of contested deletion and revision requests are handled by lawyers, because the legal and procedural arguments involved require familiarity with INTERPOL’s internal rules, the CCF’s own jurisprudence, and the standards applied in challenges to INTERPOL Red Notices and Diffusions. The portal formally accommodates representative submissions: lawyers can register a separate account, link it to the client’s case file, and manage all communication and document exchange on their client’s behalf.

The portal digitises submission and communication, but it does not change the CCF’s underlying decision-making structure. The Commission still meets four times per year, and substantive decisions on deletion or correction requests are generally taken at these sessions. Simple access requests may be processed between sessions, but contested cases involving Red Notices or politically sensitive diffusions will typically require consideration at a formal plenary.

Realistically, applicants should expect the following general ranges. Access requests are typically resolved within two to four months, assuming no complications in locating the relevant data. Correction and deletion requests take anywhere from six months to well over a year, depending on complexity, the requesting state’s response, and the CCF’s caseload at the time. Revision requests are variable: processing depends on whether the new evidence is sufficient to reopen a prior decision and on the session schedule at the time of submission.

The 2025 budget increase to approximately €4 million and the launch of the portal are expected to reduce administrative delays over time. However, the structural constraint of four sessions per year and a current staff of 15 means that processing times for complex contested cases will not improve dramatically in the near term. Calibrating expectations at the outset is an essential part of any realistic CCF litigation strategy.

While the CCF Portal makes it technically straightforward to file a request without legal assistance, obtaining a favourable deletion or correction decision is a separate and substantially more demanding matter. The CCF applies a specific legal framework — INTERPOL’s own rules, including the SPD and the CCF’s Rules on the Processing of Data — that differs from national or regional legal standards. Arguments that succeed before domestic courts do not automatically translate into CCF decisions, and procedural errors in the submission itself can result in delays or inadmissibility.

A lawyer experienced in INTERPOL proceedings can assess whether the grounds for deletion are procedurally and substantively sound, identify weaknesses in the issuing state’s submission, draft legal arguments calibrated to CCF precedent, and manage all portal communications on the client’s behalf. In cases involving Red Notices issued in connection with alleged political, military, or religious offences — or where the requesting state has a documented pattern of misusing INTERPOL’s systems — professional legal representation is not a luxury. It is the most reliable way to navigate a process that, despite the new portal, remains legally complex and time-sensitive.

If you or someone you represent is subject to an INTERPOL notice or Diffusion and needs guidance on Red Notice removal or a CCF submission through the new portal, the lawyers at Intercollegium are available for a free initial consultation. Contact us to discuss your situation and receive a frank assessment of your options.