Internet Defamation & Content Removal Attorneys

Perhaps the most obvious way to remove internet content is to ask the person who published the content to remove it. This could look like a diplomatic reach out, an editorial inquiry or a cease and desist letter. The success of this method is largely dependent on the facts of your particular situation.

Another option for internet content removal is reach out to the administrator of the website and ask them to remove the content. A site administrator maintains editorial control over the content published on their site and can choose to keep something published or delete it. Typically, a site administrator will not remove content without a compelling reason.

This method typically works best with news publications if the article is outdated, or if crimes reported on have been dismissed or expunged but can also work for removing content from other websites.

Some websites will remove offensive or negative internet content if you pay them a processing fee for their time. Sites that typically accept processing fees in exchange for removal include cheating and shaming sites. While it can feel unpleasant to pay to remove negative internet content, this is often easier and more cost-effective than filing a lawsuit.

User-generated content websites and forums typically have set guidelines for content that they will and will not allow on their sites. Content that does not follow a site’s listed guidelines can be removed.

While Google can be strict about removing content from internet search results, they have zero tolerance policies for certain types of content, like spam and revenge porn. This method can be extremely helpful in removing harmful content from being searched by casual internet users, however, Google does not have the ability to remove the infringing content from the actual website.

Certain types of internet content, like images, can be removed if you own the copyright. An attorney can help you negotiate for purchase of the copyright and submit takedown requests to remove the content.

If a website does not want to remove content from the underlying website, they still have the ability to remove the content from search engine indexing. Content that has been deindexed will only show up if an internet user already has the URL to the content saved, or if they search the actual website for the content. This can be an effective tool if a website has declined to remove content but is still willing to offer relief.

Content can also be removed pursuant to a court order. You can only get a court order by filing a lawsuit. An attorney can help you determine if you have legal claims so that you can attain a court order mandating that content be removed.