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World of Secrets: Privacy notice

Your trust is very important to us. This means the BBC is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal data. This privacy notice describes how we collect and use your personal data when you contact the BBC World of Secrets podcast with any questions or comments by email.

What is the BBC World of Secrets podcast?

The World of Secrets podcast is the BBC World Service’s global investigations series. It brings audiences in-depth reporting on complex stories that matter worldwide. The current season, The Child Cancer Scam, is the result of a two-year global investigation by the BBC Eye Investigations team.

This investigation uncovered a network of scammers who exploited vulnerable families of children with cancer. In some cases, hundreds of thousands of dollars were raised in the children’s names, but the families never received the funds.

The podcast and accompanying documentary expose how this network operated and the impact on families searching for help. Through this work, the BBC aims to shed light on these harmful practices and hold those responsible to account.

What personal information will the BBC collect and how we will use it?

If you choose to contact us about this investigation via [email protected], we may collect personal information that you provide in your email. This could include:

  • Contact details such as your name and email address.
  • Information about your experience or knowledge related to the investigation, which may include sensitive details if you have been directly affected.
  • Any other information you voluntarily share in your message.

We will use this information solely for the purpose of assessing your contribution to the investigation and, where appropriate, following up with you for further details.

Who is the Data Controller?

The BBC is the “data controller” of your personal data. This means that the BBC decides what your personal data is used for, and how it is processed. Your personal data will only be collected and processed for the purposes set out in this privacy notice. As the data controller, the BBC has the responsibility to comply and to demonstrate compliance with, data protection law.

Lawful basis for processing your personal information

The lawful basis on which the BBC processes your personal data for the performance of its task in the public interest. The BBC’s role is to act in the public interest and to serve all audiences with content which informs, educates and entertains.

The additional condition under which the BBC processes any special category data is substantial public interest and we rely on schedule 1, paragraph 13 of the Data Protection Act 2018 related to ‘Journalism, academia, art and literature’.

Sharing your personal data

The BBC works with our approved third-party providers who help us to provide some of our services. These partners only use your personal data on behalf of the BBC and not independently of the BBC. We may share personal data with a third party where required or permitted to do so by law.

Your personal data will be stored in the UK and the EEA.

Retaining your personal data

We will only keep your personal information for as long as it is needed for the purposes outlined in this notice. Once those purposes have been fulfilled, your data will be securely deleted within 12 months of the completion of the investigation.

Your rights and more information

You have rights under data protection law: 

  • You can requestacopy of the personal data BBC stores about you.
  • You have the right to request that we rectify any inaccurate or incomplete personal data that we hold about you.
  • You have the right to ask for the personal data we collect about you to be deleted, however there are limitations and exceptions to this right which may entitle the BBC to refuse your request.
  • In certain circumstances, you have the right to restrict the processing of your personal data or to object to the processing of your personal data.
  • You have the right to ask that we transfer the personal data to you or to another organisation, in certain circumstances.

You can contact our, Data Protection Officer if you have questions or you wish to find out more details about your rights.

If you have a concern about the way the BBC has handled your personal data, you can raise your concern with the supervisory authority in the UK, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) https://ico.org.uk/. 

Updating this privacy notice

We will revise the privacy notice if there are significant changes to how we use your personal data.