Foreign Service Network — How we collect, use, and protect your information
Effective date: October 2026 · Version: 1.4
Questions? Contact us at privacy@foreignservice.network
Plain-language summary: We are a technology platform for diplomatic and consular posts. We collect the information you give us to operate your account and profile. We use a small number of carefully selected service providers, some of which may process data on servers outside your country, including in the United States. If you are in the EU or UK, you have specific rights over your data, which are described below. We do not sell your data.
The Foreign Service Network ("FSN", "we", "us", "our") is a private technology platform that provides digital infrastructure to honorary consulates, consulates, and diplomatic posts. FSN is not a government agency or official diplomatic body.
This policy applies to all FSN platform services, including the member console, post websites powered by FSN, the global directory, and the marketplace.
The public directory lists consular and diplomatic representations. Its entries come from two places: the official directories that foreign ministries publish, and information supplied by FSN members. Where a ministry directory names the head of a representation, for example an honorary consul, we may hold that person's name and professional contact details (such as an office address, a business email address and a telephone number). We use these details only to keep the directory accurate and to contact the representation about FSN, and when we first write to someone we tell them where we found their details. Each listing in the directory shows where it comes from. We do not buy personal data from data brokers.
If you appear in the directory and would like your entry corrected or removed, please use the listing form or write to privacy@foreignservice.network. We check each request before we change anything.
| Purpose | Legal basis (EU/UK) |
|---|---|
| Providing and operating the FSN platform and member services | Performance of contract |
| Authenticating your identity (magic link login) | Performance of contract |
| Displaying your public profile to other FSN members | Performance of contract / Legitimate interest |
| Sending service emails (login links, approval notifications, account updates) | Performance of contract |
| Sending newsletters you subscribed to | Consent |
| Verifying the identity and role of applicants before approval | Legitimate interest (protecting the network and its members) |
| Operating the directory and post websites | Legitimate interest |
| Keeping directory entries accurate and contacting listed representations about FSN | Legitimate interest |
| Improving and maintaining the platform | Legitimate interest |
| Complying with legal obligations | Legal obligation |
FSN uses a small number of carefully selected service providers, under contract and only to operate the platform. Identity verification evidence that you upload, or that FSN staff capture during a video call (a verification video or a call screenshot), is stored in Switzerland. Some other providers may process data outside your country, including in the United States. Fonts, scripts and map data used by our pages are served from our own servers, so your browser does not contact third parties for them. The only services your browser contacts directly are the bot-protection check on our sign-up forms and, if you choose to pay or to verify instantly, the pages of our payment and identity-verification provider.
| Category | Purpose | Data processed | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting and storage | Running the platform and storing its data | All data stored on the platform | Switzerland and the United States |
| Payments and identity verification | Taking payments; checking a passport and selfie when you choose Instant Verification | Payment details; for identity verification, a passport image, a selfie and data read from the passport | United States and other countries where the provider operates |
| Platform email delivery | Sending login links, application updates and other service emails from the platform | Email address, email content | United States |
| Email accounts | Receiving and storing messages you send to FSN staff, for example at our contact addresses | Your email address and the content of your messages | As set by the email-account provider |
| Form protection | Checking that a sign-up or contact form is completed by a person and not an automated program | IP address and browser information, on the sign-up forms and the listing form only | Global network |
| Telephone numbers (optional service) | Supplying a local telephone number, if you request one | The documents the carrier requires to verify eligibility, shared only with the carrier that supplies the number | Depends on the country of the number |
Transfers outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and the UK are made on the basis of the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and/or Standard Contractual Clauses where applicable. If you have questions about specific transfer mechanisms, please contact us at privacy@foreignservice.network.
We do not sell your personal information. We may share information in the following limited circumstances:
If you are located in the European Union, United Kingdom, or another jurisdiction with applicable privacy legislation, you have the following rights:
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@foreignservice.network. We will respond within 30 days. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your national data protection authority.
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data against unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure. These include encrypted connections (HTTPS), access controls, and regular security reviews. No internet transmission is completely secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security.
FSN is a professional platform for diplomatic and consular personnel. It is not directed at individuals under the age of 18 and we do not knowingly collect data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us immediately.
We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify active members of material changes by email or by prominent notice on the platform. Continued use of FSN after such notice constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
For any privacy-related questions, requests, or concerns:
Foreign Service Network
Email: privacy@foreignservice.network
