Interpol is an intergovernmental organization (including 196 member countries) promoting international police cooperation. It supports member countries in their international investigations, particularly in the areas of terrorism, cybercrime, organized crime, financial crime and corruption but does not replace national authorities. Thus, Interpol does not have the authority to search, arrest, detain and extradite an individual, which remains the prerogative of member countries.

Notices, and to a lesser extent, diffusions, are one of the Interpol's primary tools for carrying out its mission. Notices are published by the Interpol General Secretariat at the request of a member country. There are eight types of notices, the vast majority of which are confidential, including the red notice issued by a member country, the issuing State, to localize an individual in the context of a prosecution, often with a view to arrest and extradite. Diffusions, which are less formal, are issued directly by member countries. They are global alerts or requests for information that are communicated to all member countries.

As they can seriously affect individual freedoms, professional activities and the reputation of the individuals concerned, the litigation surrounding red notices (request for information, correction, and deletion to the Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files) is high stakes. It therefore requires an excellent knowledge of the rules applicable to notices and Interpol procedures.