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Scotland Voter Panel 21 privacy notice

Thank you for applying to be a member of Scotland Voter Panel 21.

If you are a new applicant, click here to apply.

Your trust is very important to us. The BBC is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal data. It is important that you read this notice so that you are aware of how and why we are using such information. This privacy notice describes how we collect and use personal data about you during and after your relationship with us, in accordance with data protection law.

BBC Scotland are looking for people from all parts of Scotland to join our debate panel and share your stories, questions and concerns in the run up to the Scottish Elections! This is an opportunity to discuss the issues that really matter and to be part of the action as the election unfolds.

The BBC has to make sure it is reflecting a range of opinions in its programmes and it is for this reason we are collecting information about you: It is important we have a panel which reflects the diversity of views of the Scottish voting public.

We hope that you will be a member of the Scotland Voter Panel 21, but we can’t guarantee it. 

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 the ways in which it is processed. For the avoidance of any doubt, your personal data will be collected and processed solely 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.

What information are we collecting?

You must be 16 or over to participate in Scotland Voter Panel 21.

The BBC will collect and process the personal data that you have provided to us about yourself. There are two types of personal data: personal data and special category data. Special category data is still personal data, but its processing by the BBC requires the BBC to follow additional compliance steps.

The personal data is:

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Mobile number or landline number
  • Address
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Occupation
  • Public social media account details

The BBC will also collect and process certain special category data about you. The special category data is:

  • Ethnicity
  • Religion
  • Disability status
  • Political opinion/past and current political activity
  • Voting preferences

How and why do we collect your personal data?

We collect your personal data when you apply to participate in Scotland Voter Panel 21. This information is also collected so that we can contact you if you are chosen to be an audience member and so we can provide any reasonable adjustments if you are disabled.

We collect your views on television (via video link), on radio broadcasts and via BBC online platforms.

Your contributions will be used across TV, Radio and on our online platforms. This may also include use on BBC social media pages on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

What is the lawful basis for processing?

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

The BBC processes your special category data, such as political views, ethnicity and disability status (if applicable) on the lawful basis that processing is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest. This is because the BBC has a regulatory duty to present news with due impartiality. The obligation to demonstrate impartiality includes political broadcasting.

Do we share your personal data with Third Parties?

We use a third-party company to collect and store your information to enable the BBC to collect your applications for Scotland Voter Panel 21.

We use other companies to help us deliver our services and sometimes we ask them to collect, process and store information about you on our behalf. These companies only collect, process and store your personal data on behalf of the BBC and not independently of the BBC.

We may also share personal data with third parties only where it is required or permissible by law.

Retention Period

If your application is unsuccessful, BBC will retain your personal data for 6 months, at which point it will be deleted.

Where your application is successful, the BBC will retain your personal data for a period of 4 years, at which point your personal data will be deleted.

Should your contribution be used in any TV and radio content or be featured on our online platforms including BBC’s social media, the content will be archived in alignment with BBC Archiving policy indefinitely.

Additional information

If you opted in to being contacted regarding future BBC programmes and wish to opt-out, you may do so by contacting the BBC’s Commissioning Editor; Matt Roper at [email protected]

If you hear nothing from us, please assume that on this occasion your request has not been successful.

Your rights and how to contact us

You have rights under data protection law. You can request a copy of the data BBC stores about you, which includes your BBC Account data and the data described above. 

You have the right to ask for your data we collect to be deleted however, there are exceptions to your rights and they may be limited in some situations for example we may refuse this request.

If you have any questions about how the BBC handles your personal data, or if you wish to contact the BBC to exercise your rights of access to, and/or rectify, erase, object to or restrict processing of your personal data, please contact us via post or email at [email protected]

You can contact our Data Protection Officer if you have questions or you wish to find out more details about your rights, please visit the BBC’s Privacy and Cookies Policy at http://www.bbc.co.uk/privacy. 

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.

Take part in the BBC's Scottish Parliament election debates.