Emergency Alerts privacy notice

This privacy notice relates to the:

  • Emergency Alerts service
  • gov.uk/alerts website
  • user feedback about the Emergency Alerts service and guidance

It explains what personal data we collect and what we do with it. It also explains your rights and how to enforce them.

Who manages this service

The joint controllers for the Emergency Alerts service are the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and the Cabinet Office COBR Unit.

The Emergency Alerts service is provided by the Government Digital Service (GDS) working with partners across central government, local government and mobile network operators.

The Cabinet Office is the data controller for any personal data processed on gov.uk/alerts and the feedback survey.

A data controller decides how and why personal data is processed. For more information, read the Cabinet Office’s entry in the Data Protection Public Register.

What personal data we collect

From the Emergency Alerts service

Emergency alerts are broadcast from mobile phone masts to every compatible phone and tablet within range. The sender does not need to know your mobile phone number or any other personal data to send you an alert.

No one will collect or share data about you, your phone or your location when you receive an emergency alert.

From gov.uk/alerts

When you visit gov.uk/alerts, we collect your Internet Protocol (IP) address, and details of which operating system and web browser you used.

We do not use cookies or page tagging to collect information about how you use the site.

From user feedback

Emergency Alerts is a new UK government service and we'll be collecting anonymised user feedback to improve it.

An anonymous survey and user feedback ask questions about your:

  • experience of receiving an emergency alert
  • opinion on the Emergency Alerts guidance

The questions do not ask you for personal information. We will not process data that could be used to identify you, such as your name, address or phone number.

As we’re not processing your personal data, the basis for sending emergency alerts is that they're in the public interest.

However, the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) 2003 also apply.

The PECR says that some public authorities can ask mobile network operators to send an emergency alert if an emergency:

  • has happened
  • is happening
  • is about to happen

An ‘emergency’ is defined in part 1 of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. For more information, read how emergency alerts work.

Why we need your data

We do not require or need to process your personal data for Emergency Alerts.

What we do with your data

We may share anonymised data about visits to gov.uk/alerts with other government departments, agencies and public bodies.

We may also share anonymised data with our technology suppliers, for example, our hosting provider and the mobile network operators.

We will not:

  • sell or rent your data to third parties
  • share your data with third parties for marketing purposes
  • use your data in analytics

We will share your data if we are required to do so by law – for example, by court order or to prevent fraud or other crime.

How long we keep your data

For the Emergency Alerts service and gov.uk/alerts webpages, there is no data processing undertaken and, therefore, no retention of data.

We will delete anonymised feedback survey data after 1 year.

Children’s privacy protection

Our services are not designed for, or intentionally targeted at, children 13 years of age or younger. We will not be collecting or maintaining data about anyone.

Where your data is processed and stored

No personal data is collected or stored for the Emergency Alerts service.

How we protect your data and keep it secure

We are not collecting your data for the Emergency Alerts service

Your rights

You can opt out of emergency alerts at any time.

Your personal data is not processed for this service.

This privacy notice only applies to the Emergency Alerts service, gov.uk/alerts webpages and user feedback.

It does not cover:

  • the rest of the GOV.UK domain
  • other government services and transactions
  • any other websites that we link to

Other government services have their own terms and conditions and privacy policies.

If you go to another website from this one, read the privacy policy on that website to find out what it does with your information.

Contact us or make a complaint

If you have a question or complaint, you can contact the Cabinet Office Privacy Team, Cabinet Office Data Protection Officer or the Information Commissioner.

Cabinet Office Privacy Team

Email the Cabinet Office Privacy Team if you:

  • have a question about anything in this privacy notice
  • think that your personal data has been misused or mishandled

CO Privacy Team
subject.access@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Data Protection Officer (DPO)

You can also write to or email the Cabinet Office Data Protection Officer.

Cabinet Office
70 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2AS
Email: DPO@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

The DPO provides independent advice and monitoring of our use of personal information.

Information Commissioner

You can also make a complaint to the Information Commissioner, who is an independent regulator.

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Email: casework@ico.org.uk
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Textphone: 01625 545860
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm
Find out about call charges

Changes to this policy

We may change this privacy policy. In that case, the ‘last updated’ date at the bottom of this page will also change. Any changes to this privacy policy will apply to you and your data immediately.

If these changes affect how your personal data is processed, GDS will take reasonable steps to let you know.

Last updated March 2023.