The United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) takes your privacy seriously. The information we collect is used exclusively by authorized Security Professionals within the UN Security Management System (UNSMS). Your data is encrypted at every stage and is never sold to or shared with third parties.

The Electronic Travel Advisory (eTA) app uses your location to provide relevant security alerts and advisories. How your data is handled depends on two factors:

  1. The location permission level you grant the eTA app: "Always" or "While Using".
  2. The security geo-location mode enabled by the security professionals' team at your duty station: "General location logs" or "Locate and assist".
Location permission levels explained:
  • "Always": Enables real-time location-based security alerts and advisories, even when the app is closed.
  • "While Using": Provides alerts and advisories based only on your last recorded security area, when you last opened the app.
Security geo-location features explained:
  • "General location logs": This is the default mode. The system does not store or display your specific location. Instead, it uses your location data only to log the Security Risk Management Area (SRMA) corresponding to your location.
  • "Locate and assist": This mode is primarily used in high-risk areas and/or emergency situations, and enabling it requires the approval of the Designated Official (DO) of your area. In this mode, the past 96 hours of your whereabouts are stored. This mode is enabled only in exceptional circumstances and only with DO approval. Keeping your device location on, especially during emergency situations, is a safety measure whose responsibility lies with you.
Requesting data deletion:

You can request the deletion of your collected location data at any time. To submit such a request, please use the "Contact Us" option in the app.

Reminder: United Nations personnel are responsible for abiding by security policies, guidelines, directives, plans, and procedures of the UNSMS and its organizations. UNDSS is here to help you fulfill this responsibility.