Privacy Policy

1. Scope

This Policy applies to personal information processed through LegalEvidence websites, evidence-submission systems, investigations, published records, membership services, LEIS, communications and related operations.

Because LegalEvidence conducts cross-border investigative and editorial work, different privacy, data-protection, journalistic and public-record rules may apply depending on the circumstances and jurisdiction.

2. Information We May Collect

LegalEvidence may process information including names, professional information, corporate affiliations, contact details, public-record information, litigation and regulatory records, corporate ownership information, correspondence, documentary evidence and information submitted by sources or users.

For Research Members and authorised LEIS users, we may additionally process account details, professional credentials, organisation information, access records, security logs and information necessary to determine eligibility for restricted access.

We do not collect information merely because it may be interesting. Investigative collection should have a legitimate connection to our research, evidentiary, editorial, security or operational purposes.

3. Investigative and Public-Interest Information

LegalEvidence may process personal information when researching matters of legitimate public interest.

Depending upon the matter, information may originate from courts, government authorities, regulators, corporate registries, sanctions authorities, public databases, lawful open-source research, documentary evidence, interviews, subjects of investigations and confidential sources.

The existence of information in our investigative systems does not necessarily mean that it is verified or suitable for publication.

4. Public Records

Information contained in a public record is not automatically reproduced simply because it is publicly accessible.

LegalEvidence considers relevance, evidentiary value, context, accuracy and legitimate public-interest considerations when deciding whether information should form part of a published record.

Where appropriate, publications distinguish allegations from findings and pending proceedings from final determinations.

5. Evidence Submitted to LegalEvidence

When you submit evidence, we may collect your contact information, documents, communications and information concerning the person, organisation or matter identified in your submission.

Submissions may be retained where reasonably necessary for verification, investigation, legal review, source protection, correction handling or preservation of the evidentiary record.

Submission does not guarantee publication.

6. Confidential Sources

LegalEvidence takes source confidentiality seriously.

Where confidentiality has been agreed, access to identifying information may be restricted internally according to operational need and applicable law.

However, LegalEvidence cannot promise absolute confidentiality in circumstances where disclosure is legally compelled or otherwise required under applicable law.

7. LE Intelligence System (LEIS)

LEIS may contain investigative information, research material, source references and other data that is not publicly available on LegalEvidence.

Restricted information is not automatically suitable for public disclosure.

Access to LEIS may be limited to approved lawyers, investigators, government or law-enforcement personnel, compliance professionals, researchers or other authorised users, depending upon the applicable access criteria.

LEIS access may be logged and monitored for security, accountability and misuse prevention.

8. Research Membership

When an individual applies for Research Membership, LegalEvidence may process information necessary to evaluate the application, administer membership, provide research services, maintain account security and enforce access restrictions.

Where professional verification is required, we may request evidence reasonably necessary to verify identity, organisation or professional purpose.

Membership does not provide unrestricted access to all information held by LegalEvidence.

9. How We Use Information

Personal information may be used to conduct and verify investigations, authenticate evidence, resolve identities, maintain dossiers and reports, contact subjects for comment, administer rights of reply, process correction requests, protect sources, operate LEIS, manage memberships, secure our systems and comply with legal obligations.

Where required by applicable law, processing will be based upon an appropriate lawful basis.

10. Publication of Personal Information

LegalEvidence may publish personal information where publication is lawful, appropriately sourced and justified by the editorial and public-interest context.

Publication decisions are separate from data collection decisions.

The fact that LegalEvidence lawfully possesses information does not necessarily mean that the information should be published.

Particularly sensitive, irrelevant or disproportionately intrusive information may be withheld even where it forms part of the underlying investigative file.

11. Information We Do Not Sell

LegalEvidence does not sell personal information in exchange for payment.

We do not operate a paid removal model.

No person may purchase deletion, suppression or favourable alteration of accurate evidence-based reporting.

Research Membership and other paid services remain separate from editorial decision-making.

12. Sharing and Disclosure

Information may be disclosed to personnel, professional advisers, technology providers and other service providers where reasonably necessary for LegalEvidence's operations and subject to appropriate safeguards.

Where lawful and appropriate, information may also be provided to courts, regulators, law-enforcement agencies or other competent authorities.

Confidential source information receives heightened consideration before any disclosure.

13. International Processing

LegalEvidence operates across jurisdictions, including work involving the United States, United Kingdom and jurisdictions in Asia.

Information may therefore be accessed, reviewed or processed outside the jurisdiction in which it was originally obtained.

Where applicable data-protection law requires safeguards for international transfers, LegalEvidence will seek to apply the legally required mechanism appropriate to the processing.

14. Data Security

LegalEvidence uses organisational and technical safeguards intended to protect information against unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration or loss.

Access to sensitive investigative information should be restricted according to role and operational necessity.

No electronic system can guarantee absolute security.

15. Retention

Information is retained according to its purpose, evidentiary significance, legal requirements, security considerations and continuing relevance.

Investigative records may require longer retention than ordinary account information because LegalEvidence may need to preserve the evidentiary basis for a publication, correction, legal challenge or subsequent development.

Retention does not necessarily mean continued public publication.

16. Your Rights

Depending upon your jurisdiction and the nature of the processing, you may have rights relating to access, correction, deletion, restriction, objection or other forms of control over personal information.

These rights are not necessarily absolute.

Applicable law may provide exemptions or limitations relating to journalism, freedom of expression, public records, legal claims, regulatory obligations, investigations, source protection or matters of public interest.

LegalEvidence evaluates requests according to the law applicable to the particular information and processing activity.

17. Correction Is Different From Removal

A request concerning inaccurate information will be assessed against the underlying evidence.

Where information is materially inaccurate, LegalEvidence may correct it in accordance with its Corrections Policy.

Where information is accurate and its continued publication remains lawful and justified, a request for deletion does not automatically require removal.

No fee is charged to submit a legitimate privacy or correction request.

18. Children

LegalEvidence is not intended as a service for children.

Information concerning minors should receive heightened scrutiny and should not be published merely because it is available in a source. Any processing involving minors should be assessed according to applicable law and the legitimate public-interest circumstances of the matter.

19. Cookies, Security and Technical Data

LegalEvidence may process IP addresses, device information, browser information, timestamps, authentication events and similar technical data for security, system administration, fraud prevention and service operation.

Where legally required, non-essential cookies or comparable technologies will be subject to applicable consent requirements.

20. Privacy Requests

Privacy requests should identify the individual concerned, the specific information or publication at issue and the nature of the request.

LegalEvidence may request reasonable information to verify identity before disclosing personal information or acting upon certain requests.

Requests should be submitted through the Contact page and marked: PRIVACY / DATA PROTECTION REQUEST. On the Contact page, choose “Privacy / Data Protection Request” as the nature of enquiry.

21. Changes to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be revised as LegalEvidence's operations, technologies and legal obligations develop.

Material revisions will be reflected by the Last Updated date appearing at the beginning of this Policy.

22. Editorial Independence and Privacy

Privacy rights are taken seriously, but privacy requests are not treated as a mechanism for purchasing, pressuring or negotiating the removal of accurate reporting.

LegalEvidence evaluates privacy, correction and removal requests on their legal and evidentiary merits.

No payment, membership, commercial relationship or threat of withdrawal of business affects that determination.