The Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF) has announced two developments that will be of direct interest to practitioners and applicants. The first is the launch of a new online portal for submitting requests. The second is a call for independent experts on effective remedies in data protection.
The new CCF portal goes live on 26 March
On 26 March 2026, at 10:00 CET, the CCF will launch its dedicated, secure online portal. From that moment, as stated on the CCF’s own page, the portal will become the only channel for submitting requests. Email and postal mail submissions will no longer be accepted, unless the Commission finds exceptional circumstances requiring the use of other means, as provided for in Rule 25(2) of the CCF Operating Rules.
According to the CCF, the portal will enable applicants or their authorized representatives to submit requests for access to personal data, correction and/or deletion of personal data, as well as applications for revision of a CCF decision. Beyond submissions, the portal will also allow users to track the status of their request during the review process, access all communications and supporting documents exchanged with the CCF, and consult the Commission’s decisions on their requests.
This is a significant operational shift. For years, the CCF accepted requests by email and, before that, by postal mail. The move to a centralized digital platform had been anticipated since INTERPOL confirmed earlier this year that a secure portal would launch in the first quarter of 2026. In her speech to the 93rd General Assembly in November 2025, CCF Chairperson Teresa McHenry also indicated that a portal for submissions and a case management system would be progressively introduced.
The CCF has indicated that the portal will guide users through the submission process, including which documents to provide, and that a special assistance form will be available to address any technical problems. Further details and guidance, including for ongoing requests, will be provided in due course.
For practitioners, this transition carries both practical implications and open questions. A structured portal should improve case tracking and centralize document exchanges, which is a welcome development. At the same time, there remains the question of how ongoing cases currently handled by email will be managed. According to the CCF, applicants with ongoing requests will initially continue to receive updates by email under the previous procedure. Ongoing cases may be migrated to the portal at a later stage, and applicants or their representatives will be advised if that happens.
Practitioners and applicants should take note of the 26 March deadline. From 10:00 CET on that date, the portal will be the only accepted submission channel. Requests sent by email after that point will not be processed.
Call for experts on effective remedies in data protection
Separately, the CCF has launched a call for experts. The Commission is seeking independent expertise on what constitutes an effective remedy as it relates to data protection. The areas of focus include the right to access, the right to correct or delete data, the right to apply for revision of a decision, and the right to a reasoned decision.
This call comes at a pivotal time. The CCF Statute is currently undergoing a comprehensive review through the Committee on the Processing of Data (CPD), and questions around the scope and effectiveness of individual remedies sit at the heart of that process. The CPD itself has issued a separate call for civil society contributions on matters related to the CCF Statute review, with input due ahead of its April 2026 session.
What exactly the CCF intends to do with the expert input remains to be seen. But the timing is notable. Coming alongside the statute review, this consultation signals that the Commission is actively reflecting on how its remedial framework operates in practice and whether it meets the standards expected of an independent oversight body handling sensitive personal data in a law enforcement context.
Applications to participate in the call for experts must be submitted by 27 March 2026. Further details are available on the CCF’s dedicated page.
Practical takeaways
Both announcements reflect a broader pattern of institutional modernization within the CCF. The move to a dedicated portal is the most immediately consequential for day-to-day practice, and representatives should prepare their workflows accordingly. The call for experts, while less immediately operational, is worth watching closely for anyone involved in or following the ongoing reform of the CCF Statute.
Need assistance with a CCF request?
Otherside represents individuals and assists law firms in INTERPOL and CCF matters, including Red Notice removal, data access requests, and applications for revision. If you have a pending or upcoming request before the CCF and need guidance on the new portal or on your case, contact us for a confidential review.
