The Hidden Power of Green: Understanding Interpol's Warning System

The Hidden Power of Green: Understanding Interpol’s Warning System

An Interpol Green Notice is a type of international alert used to warn law enforcement in member countries about individuals who may pose a threat to public safety due to their criminal history.

Unlike Red Notices, which seek the location and/or arrest of individuals with a view to extradition, Green Notices are preventive, aiming to inform and protect – they simply alert border authorities that the person crossing their checkpoint has a concerning past that warrants attention.

While Red Notices frequently make headlines when high-profile fugitives are pursued internationally, Green Notices operate more discreetly in the shadows of international policing. These less-publicised alerts, Interpol’s intelligence sharing network, represent an important but often overlooked dimension of cross-border law enforcement.

Who Gets Flagged Green?

Green Notices are issued to provide warnings about a person’s criminal activities, especially when the individual is considered likely to reoffend in other countries.

Green Notices typically target:

• Serial offenders who operate across borders, including convicted sex offenders
• Individuals involved in organised crime
• Individuals with ties to terrorist groups

Green Notices in Practice: A Recent CCF Decision

A recent decision in 2025 by the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF), the body responsible for overseeing the processing of personal data within Interpol’s systems, offers insight into how Green Notices are assessed and challenged, and the human consequences they can carry.

In case 2025-3, an individual flagged by a Green Notice sought to have it removed. The notice had been issued by their home country, based on a series of convictions spanning drug possession, theft, and intellectual property violations. The most recent conviction occurred in 2015, and the person was later arrested in another country in 2018, though not convicted.

Now, several years removed from those events, the individual claimed to have led a lawful life since and argued that the notice unfairly burdened them. Their family life had been severely disrupted – travel restrictions, visa denials, and persistent scrutiny at borders had taken a toll. The applicant argued that the notice no longer served a legitimate security purpose and was disproportionate to their current behaviour.

The CCF reviewed the case and acknowledged the applicant’s arguments. However, it concluded that the individual’s criminal history – comprising six convictions and a more recent arrest – remained a legitimate basis for the notice, particularly given the international dimension of the conduct. The Green Notice, in the CCF’s view, served the intended purpose of alerting authorities to a potential, ongoing threat.

However, the CCF also identified a significant procedural gap. The country that issued the notice had failed to confirm whether its national laws still authorised the retention of the data in Interpol’s systems. In response, the CCF issued a conditional ruling: the notice would remain active for one month. If the issuing country failed to provide legal justification within that time frame, the data would be deleted.

This case illustrates the delicate balance Interpol must strike between facilitating international security cooperation and safeguarding individual rights. While the Green Notice system is designed to prevent harm, it must operate with procedural rigour, legal oversight, and fairness for those affected.

The Transparency Problem

While effective as a tool of precaution, their invisibility also raises questions about transparency, due process, and the right to challenge such measures.

While some Red Notices are publicly displayed on Interpol’s website, Green Notices remain hidden from public view. This creates a concerning scenario where individuals may be subject to international monitoring without knowledge.

The issuance of Green Notices can have significant consequences for the individuals concerned, as shown in the scenario above, including increased scrutiny, travel restrictions, and difficulties in obtaining visas or employment. Often, individuals discover adverse information only when detained at borders, with little explanation provided about the underlying basis for their detention.

While Interpol has implemented some reforms in recent years, particularly around Red Notices, Green Notices have received less scrutiny despite their potential for abuse.

Individuals who believe they are unjustly targeted by a Green Notice can petition the CCF to review their case. However, the lack of transparency and the limited scope of the CCF’s authority can hinder effective oversight.

A notable development in the Green Notice system came during Interpol’s 83rd General Assembly in 2014, which passed Resolution AG-2014-83-RES-02. This resolution specifically strengthened the use of Green Notices to track child sex offenders across international borders, recognising the particular threat posed by those who travel internationally to commit offences against children.

The Balancing Act: Security vs Rights

When functioning as intended, Green Notices serve a legitimate purpose. They have been used effectively in multinational operations against human trafficking networks, helping identify individuals of interest as they cross borders. They have also supported international efforts against child exploitation by enabling information sharing about relevant criminal histories.

Operation Libertad, a 2018 Interpol-coordinated action against human trafficking across 13 countries in the Americas, demonstrated how intelligence sharing tools can support legitimate law enforcement objectives, leading to 350 victims being rescued and multiple arrests.

Conclusion: The Power of the Unseen

As other notices in Interpol’s colour-coded system, Green Notices embody a fundamental paradox in international policing: tools designed to prevent crime and protect public safety can simultaneously endanger when misused. While they remain critical for tracking genuine threats across borders, their lack of transparency creates opportunities for abuse.

The evolving nature of cross-border crime demands sophisticated intelligence-sharing mechanisms, but not at the expense of individual rights and due process. As authoritarian regimes continue to demonstrate a willingness to weaponise international policing tools, reform becomes increasingly urgent.

The solution is not abandoning these notices but a recalibrated Green Notice system with enhanced oversight, clearer appeals processes, and greater accountability. This would preserve their effectiveness and maintain the integrity of international policing efforts, while preventing political exploitation.

If you believe you may be subject to an Interpol notice, or require legal advice from specialist Interpol Red Notice lawyers about any matter relating to Interpol, please contact us here. You can read more about us, here.

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