Legal
Privacy Policy
This notice explains what information is collected when you use our website and case-assessment form, why it is collected, and how it is handled.
Fact Investigation provides remote online investigation and verification services. This policy applies to the information collected through this website, principally through the case-assessment and contact forms. We do not publish a public contact email, phone number or address; all initial contact takes place through the forms on this site.
What we collect
Information collected through the forms
When you submit a case assessment or a general enquiry, we collect the information you choose to provide, which may include: your name or the name you wish to be contacted by, a way to reach you (such as an email address you supply), a description of your situation, the countries or people involved, and any documents, links, screenshots or other material you attach in support of your case. We also collect limited technical information automatically, such as browser type and general usage data, described further in our cookie policy.
We do not knowingly collect information about a subject of an investigation directly from that person; information about a third party is provided to us by the client making the request, at the client's own responsibility.
Why we use it
Purpose and lawful basis
Information submitted through the case-assessment form is used to evaluate whether a case can realistically be researched, to prepare a scope and price, and, once a client agrees to proceed, to carry out and deliver the agreed investigation. General enquiry information is used only to respond to that enquiry. Depending on the circumstances and the jurisdiction that applies to you, our basis for this processing is generally either that it is necessary to take steps at your request before entering into an agreement, necessary to perform an agreement with you, or based on a legitimate interest in responding to enquiries and operating this website securely. Where a lawful basis requires your consent, we will ask for it separately before relying on it.
Storage & security
How information is stored and secured
Case information is stored in access-controlled systems, with access limited to the personnel who need it to assess or deliver your case. We apply reasonable technical and organisational measures appropriate to the sensitivity of the material, including restricted access and secure transmission. No online system can be guaranteed completely secure, and we ask clients not to submit information through the forms that is more sensitive than necessary for us to assess the case.
Retention
Retention and deletion
We retain case information for as long as reasonably necessary to deliver the service, respond to any follow-up questions about a delivered report, and meet reasonable administrative and legal record-keeping needs. Enquiry information that does not lead to an engaged case is retained only for a limited period before deletion. You may request deletion of your information at any time, as described below, and we will action that request unless we have a legitimate reason to retain specific records for a limited further period.
Who processes it
Service providers and disclosure
We may use third-party service providers for functions such as website hosting, form processing, email delivery and secure storage. These providers process information on our instructions and only to the extent needed to provide their service to us; we do not sell personal information or share it for third-party advertising purposes. We do not disclose case information to any party outside the engagement except where required by law, requested by the client themselves, or necessary to protect the rights or safety of any person.
International transfers
Cross-border processing
As a remote-first service, information may be processed or stored in a country other than the one you are submitting it from, including by service providers located elsewhere. Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure the information continues to receive an appropriate level of protection consistent with this policy.
Your rights
Data-subject rights
Depending on where you are located, you may have rights to request access to, correction of, deletion of, or a copy of the information we hold about you, to object to or restrict certain processing, and to withdraw consent where processing relies on it. To make any of these requests, use the contact form and describe the request; we will respond within a reasonable time and may need to verify your identity before actioning it.
Changes
Changes to this notice
We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal or operational reasons. The version published on this page is always the current one; material changes will be reflected by an updated date once this policy is revised.