How we handle your data

Last updated: 15 September 2026

The EU News Media Cheques campaign is committed to protecting your personal data. This notice explains what we collect, why, how we use it, and the rights you have under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Who we are

The EU News Media Cheques campaign is an initiative of ALT-TEXT ASBL, a non-profit organisation registered in Belgium. ALT-TEXT ASBL is the data controller responsible for your personal data.

Contact: hello@newsmediacheques.eu

What data we collect

When you sign the open letter, we collect:

• Required: your first name, last name, email address, country, and the capacity in which you are signing (for example, individual, journalist, or organisation).
• Optional: your organisation name, and your answers to the campaign's preference questions (preferred cheque amount, age band, views on funding, eligible media, support for a European Citizens' Initiative, and any ideas or comments you choose to share).

We do not collect any special categories of personal data, and we do not use tracking or advertising cookies. See "Cookies" below.

Why we collect it and our legal basis

We process your data on the basis of your explicit consent (GDPR Article 6(1)(a)), which you give by submitting the sign-on form. We use your data to:

• verify the authenticity of signatures;
• send you a confirmation that you have signed;
• compile the open letter delivered to the European Commission and European Parliament;
• keep you informed about the campaign's progress;
• understand signatories' preferences in aggregate, to shape what the campaign asks EU institutions to build.

What is made public

Your name, country, and signing capacity may appear on the public open letter and the list of signatories. Your email address will never be published or shared with any third party. Your answers to the preference questions are used in aggregate and are never published in a way that identifies you.

Who has access to your data

Your data is accessible only to the campaign team at ALT-TEXT ASBL. We do not sell, rent, or share your personal data with third parties for their own purposes. Data is stored on our own hosting infrastructure within the European Union.

How long we keep it

We retain your data for the duration of the campaign. Once the campaign concludes, personal data will be securely deleted, except where we are required to retain records for legitimate archival or legal reasons. You can request deletion at any time.

Your rights

Under the GDPR, you have the right to:

• access the personal data we hold about you;
• request correction of inaccurate data;
• request erasure of your data ("right to be forgotten");
• restrict or object to our processing of your data;
• data portability, where applicable;
• withdraw your consent at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal.

To exercise any of these rights, email hello@newsmediacheques.eu. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your national data protection authority. In Belgium, this is the Data Protection Authority (Autorité de protection des données / Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit).

Cookies

This site uses only essential cookies strictly necessary for the site to function. We do not use analytics, tracking, or advertising cookies, and we do not build profiles of visitors. Because we use only essential cookies, no consent is required for them under the ePrivacy rules, but we show a notice on your first visit for transparency.

Changes to this notice

We may update this privacy notice from time to time. The "last updated" date at the top reflects the most recent version. Material changes will be communicated to signatories where appropriate.

Contact

For any question about your data or this notice, contact us at hello@newsmediacheques.eu.