Q&A: How to Remove Negative News Articles
If you're worried about reputational damage from newspapers and media outlets, don’t despair. Internet Erasure has helped hundreds of people, like you, rebuild their image after bad publicity. In this article, we’ll explain how to exercise the Right to Be Forgotten (Right to Erasure) to remove damaging news articles, including reports on court cases and defamation.
General News Reports:What’s the Difference Between Libel, Slander and Defamation (of Character)?
In the UK, newspapers can normally print your name without your permission, provided their reporting is accurate, non-malicious, and adheres to press standards. However, for criminal cases, they cannot publish your name until you’ve been officially charged unless you are wanted in connection with a crime.
Journalists often include your age and partial address as additional details when covering a story. This practice helps distinguish individuals with the same or similar names and protects against defamation.
While you may not be able to stop a newspaper from printing your name, there are steps you can take to address damaging or inaccurate stories. You can file a complaint with press standards authorities such as IPSO or Impress, but you must do this within 12 months of the article's publication date.
Can You Stop a Newspaper Printing a Story?
You must contact the editor directly to prevent a newspaper from printing a story. However, blocking a report can be challenging, as there are limited legal grounds for doing so. You may be able to stop a negative news article from being published if you can demonstrate that they are inaccurate, defamatory, or in breach of IPSO’s Code of Practice or Impress’ Standards Code. These regulations are designed to protect individuals from unethical reporting and practices.
Can You Remove Negative Articles from the Internet?
You may be able to remove negative news articles from Google and other platforms using the Right to Be Forgotten. This data protection right under Article 17 of the UK’s GDPR allows you to request the deletion of your data from online platforms. If an article is inaccurate, harmful, outdated, misleading, or irrelevant and has a detrimental or disproportionate effect on your life, the Right to Erasure could help.
For more information, view our free guide on removing harmful content or arrange a free consultation with the privacy lawyers at Internet Erasure for thorough results.
Reporting on Court Cases:Will My Court Case Be in the Papers?
In the UK, your court case may be reported in newspapers due to the ‘open justice’ principle. This principle supports transparency within the justice system, ensuring that legal matters are accessible to the public. As a result, journalists are often encouraged to attend court proceedings and report on them.
Whether your name makes the press ultimately depends on the publisher's judgement. If they deem your case newsworthy and believe it serves the public interest, it will likely be covered in the papers.
Can You Stop a Court Case from Being Reported in the Press?
Generally, you cannot prevent legal proceedings from being reported in the media due to press freedom and the public's right to know. However, during the pre-trial stages, you can apply to the court for a ‘reporting restriction’. This legal mechanism aims to prevent journalists from covering your case.
However, media and prosecutors often oppose such requests, believing it undermines the principle of open justice. When reviewing your application, the court will weigh your right to privacy against the public's right to know.
Do All Crown Court Cases Get Published?
Most Crown Court cases are reported in newspapers, but there are exceptions. For instance, defendants under the age of 17 and victims of sexual assault are granted anonymity, which means their identities cannot be disclosed. Journalists may also refrain from covering these stories to prevent potential legal issues. Additionally, a reporting restriction automatically applies to teachers accused of crimes by pupils at the same school. However, if the teacher is found guilty, this restriction is lifted, and the court case may appear in the news.
Dealing with Defamation:
How to Deal with Defamation of Character?
If you're a victim of libel (written defamation), the first step is to stay calm and gather as much evidence as possible, such as screenshots or photos of the defamatory content. To establish defamation, you’ll also need to demonstrate that:
In addition to contacting a lawyer, it’s worth contacting the article’s author and requesting that they remove or retract their statement. The Right to Be Forgotten could also be used in this context to remove defamatory links, articles and photos from search engines. Please view our dedicated page on ‘Libel and defamation in the UK’ for further information.
Is it Illegal to Ruin Someone’s Reputation?
In the UK, ruining someone’s reputation is not illegal. Instead, it falls under the category of ‘defamation’, when false statements are knowingly made about someone else with the intent of damaging their reputation. Defamation is classed as a ‘tort’ or a civil wrong that may require the defendant to pay compensation for damage caused.
It’s important not to confuse defamation with freedom of speech. For example, expressing a negative but honest opinion about someone does not constitute defamation, even if it negatively impacts that person’s reputation. This distinction can make it difficult for victims to take legal action against defamatory statements. In many cases, pursuing the Right to Be Forgotten may provide an easier path to restoring your reputation.
What Can I Do If Someone Makes False Allegations Against Me?If false allegations against you were published on a third-party website and have caused damage to your reputation, you may be able to sue for defamation. However, you'll need to prove that these accusations are false.
The Defamation Act 2013 outlines the conditions under which you can take legal action for reputational harm. If you win your case, the court may formally order the defendant to pay compensation and retract their allegations. Remember that defamation lawsuits can be difficult, costly and time-consuming. The Right to Be Forgotten is often a simpler alternative to clear your name.
Removing Content From Google:
How Do I Stop My Name from Appearing on a Google Search?
If you want to stop your name from appearing in Google search results, you can request the removal of specific content. However, you can't ask Google to block your name from all search results – you'll need to make individual requests for each piece of content associated with your name.
Your right to do this is enshrined in Article 17 of GDPR law, also known as the Right to Be Forgotten. We offer a free guide to assist with DIY removals. However, deletion is not automatically guaranteed. The content must meet specific criteria to be eligible for removal, such as being outdated, irrelevant, excessive, or inaccurate. Additionally, you may face challenges if the content conflicts with the public's right to know.
If you’re unsuccessful in removing content, please contact Internet Erasure. We’ve helped over 900 people rebuild their reputations by removing 50,000 damaging links from search engines.
How Do I Remove Personal Information from Google?
Filing a content removal request is one way to remove your personal information from Google and other search engines. Consider contacting the website owner to request they remove the content. Once they comply, you can ask Google to deindex that specific content. While Google will eventually remove it automatically, this process can take a few months, so submitting your request as soon as possible is recommended.
Additionally, you can take proactive steps to protect your privacy online. Ensure your social media accounts are private and opt out of data brokers and people-searching websites to reduce the chances of your details appearing online.
How to Exercise the Right to Be Forgotten:
What Is the Right to Erasure / Right to Be Forgotten?
The Right to Erasure, also known as the 'Right to Be Forgotten', is a legal provision under Article 17 of GDPR. In the context of negative news articles, it gives you the right to request the content be removed from search engine results when your name is searched. Since your name is considered personal data, you have the right to protect it. You can also exercise this data protection right multiple times if necessary.
When Can I Use the Right to Erasure to Remove Negative Articles from the Internet?
The right to erasure can help block unwanted and damaging search results, especially if the content is harmful, outdated, irrelevant, or misleading – particularly if it’s negatively impacting your personal or professional life. If you're unsure whether you have sufficient grounds for removal, visit our helpful ‘Who Can Apply?’ page.
How to Apply for Right to Be Forgotten:
Anyone in the UK can apply for the Right to Be Forgotten, and we offer a practical free guide for a DIY approach. However, requests may be declined if it can be argued that the public interest outweighs your privacy rights. Newspapers and media outlets may exploit these loopholes to keep their stories online. For the best success at removal, it’s recommended to seek the assistance of skilled privacy lawyers.
How Can Internet Erasure Help?
Using your Right to Erasure can be difficult due to press freedoms and the public's right to know. That’s where Internet Erasure comes in. Our team of expert privacy lawyers specialise in removing negative news articles, having taken down 50,000 damaging stories, links, and images from search engine results over the years.
As part of our process, we use the Right to Be Forgotten, along with defamation, copyright, and privacy laws, to remove news articles and related content from online platforms. Our team will work relentlessly to navigate all complexities and clear your name, no matter how many submissions, reviews, or appeals it takes.
Please contact us to see if we can help rebuild your reputation – simply email [email protected], call 0333 252 0923, or message via SMS or WhatsApp at 07565 130 116. Alternatively, you can submit a convenient initial enquiry form.
General News Reports:What’s the Difference Between Libel, Slander and Defamation (of Character)?
- Libel: This refers to defamatory statements published in a fixed medium, such as in print or online. Since it is written, libel is considered permanent in the eyes of the law.
- Slander: This pertains to defamatory claims that are spoken. These claims are deemed temporary by law.
- Defamation (of character): This is the umbrella term that includes both libel and slander. It encompasses any damaging written or spoken statements about an individual’s character.
In the UK, newspapers can normally print your name without your permission, provided their reporting is accurate, non-malicious, and adheres to press standards. However, for criminal cases, they cannot publish your name until you’ve been officially charged unless you are wanted in connection with a crime.
Journalists often include your age and partial address as additional details when covering a story. This practice helps distinguish individuals with the same or similar names and protects against defamation.
While you may not be able to stop a newspaper from printing your name, there are steps you can take to address damaging or inaccurate stories. You can file a complaint with press standards authorities such as IPSO or Impress, but you must do this within 12 months of the article's publication date.
Can You Stop a Newspaper Printing a Story?
You must contact the editor directly to prevent a newspaper from printing a story. However, blocking a report can be challenging, as there are limited legal grounds for doing so. You may be able to stop a negative news article from being published if you can demonstrate that they are inaccurate, defamatory, or in breach of IPSO’s Code of Practice or Impress’ Standards Code. These regulations are designed to protect individuals from unethical reporting and practices.
Can You Remove Negative Articles from the Internet?
You may be able to remove negative news articles from Google and other platforms using the Right to Be Forgotten. This data protection right under Article 17 of the UK’s GDPR allows you to request the deletion of your data from online platforms. If an article is inaccurate, harmful, outdated, misleading, or irrelevant and has a detrimental or disproportionate effect on your life, the Right to Erasure could help.
For more information, view our free guide on removing harmful content or arrange a free consultation with the privacy lawyers at Internet Erasure for thorough results.
Reporting on Court Cases:Will My Court Case Be in the Papers?
In the UK, your court case may be reported in newspapers due to the ‘open justice’ principle. This principle supports transparency within the justice system, ensuring that legal matters are accessible to the public. As a result, journalists are often encouraged to attend court proceedings and report on them.
Whether your name makes the press ultimately depends on the publisher's judgement. If they deem your case newsworthy and believe it serves the public interest, it will likely be covered in the papers.
Can You Stop a Court Case from Being Reported in the Press?
Generally, you cannot prevent legal proceedings from being reported in the media due to press freedom and the public's right to know. However, during the pre-trial stages, you can apply to the court for a ‘reporting restriction’. This legal mechanism aims to prevent journalists from covering your case.
However, media and prosecutors often oppose such requests, believing it undermines the principle of open justice. When reviewing your application, the court will weigh your right to privacy against the public's right to know.
Do All Crown Court Cases Get Published?
Most Crown Court cases are reported in newspapers, but there are exceptions. For instance, defendants under the age of 17 and victims of sexual assault are granted anonymity, which means their identities cannot be disclosed. Journalists may also refrain from covering these stories to prevent potential legal issues. Additionally, a reporting restriction automatically applies to teachers accused of crimes by pupils at the same school. However, if the teacher is found guilty, this restriction is lifted, and the court case may appear in the news.
Dealing with Defamation:
How to Deal with Defamation of Character?
If you're a victim of libel (written defamation), the first step is to stay calm and gather as much evidence as possible, such as screenshots or photos of the defamatory content. To establish defamation, you’ll also need to demonstrate that:
- The claims were false and made with malicious intent.
- You are identified in the statements.
- A third party, such as a newspaper, website or social media platform, have published the claims.
In addition to contacting a lawyer, it’s worth contacting the article’s author and requesting that they remove or retract their statement. The Right to Be Forgotten could also be used in this context to remove defamatory links, articles and photos from search engines. Please view our dedicated page on ‘Libel and defamation in the UK’ for further information.
Is it Illegal to Ruin Someone’s Reputation?
In the UK, ruining someone’s reputation is not illegal. Instead, it falls under the category of ‘defamation’, when false statements are knowingly made about someone else with the intent of damaging their reputation. Defamation is classed as a ‘tort’ or a civil wrong that may require the defendant to pay compensation for damage caused.
It’s important not to confuse defamation with freedom of speech. For example, expressing a negative but honest opinion about someone does not constitute defamation, even if it negatively impacts that person’s reputation. This distinction can make it difficult for victims to take legal action against defamatory statements. In many cases, pursuing the Right to Be Forgotten may provide an easier path to restoring your reputation.
What Can I Do If Someone Makes False Allegations Against Me?If false allegations against you were published on a third-party website and have caused damage to your reputation, you may be able to sue for defamation. However, you'll need to prove that these accusations are false.
The Defamation Act 2013 outlines the conditions under which you can take legal action for reputational harm. If you win your case, the court may formally order the defendant to pay compensation and retract their allegations. Remember that defamation lawsuits can be difficult, costly and time-consuming. The Right to Be Forgotten is often a simpler alternative to clear your name.
Removing Content From Google:
How Do I Stop My Name from Appearing on a Google Search?
If you want to stop your name from appearing in Google search results, you can request the removal of specific content. However, you can't ask Google to block your name from all search results – you'll need to make individual requests for each piece of content associated with your name.
Your right to do this is enshrined in Article 17 of GDPR law, also known as the Right to Be Forgotten. We offer a free guide to assist with DIY removals. However, deletion is not automatically guaranteed. The content must meet specific criteria to be eligible for removal, such as being outdated, irrelevant, excessive, or inaccurate. Additionally, you may face challenges if the content conflicts with the public's right to know.
If you’re unsuccessful in removing content, please contact Internet Erasure. We’ve helped over 900 people rebuild their reputations by removing 50,000 damaging links from search engines.
How Do I Remove Personal Information from Google?
Filing a content removal request is one way to remove your personal information from Google and other search engines. Consider contacting the website owner to request they remove the content. Once they comply, you can ask Google to deindex that specific content. While Google will eventually remove it automatically, this process can take a few months, so submitting your request as soon as possible is recommended.
Additionally, you can take proactive steps to protect your privacy online. Ensure your social media accounts are private and opt out of data brokers and people-searching websites to reduce the chances of your details appearing online.
How to Exercise the Right to Be Forgotten:
What Is the Right to Erasure / Right to Be Forgotten?
The Right to Erasure, also known as the 'Right to Be Forgotten', is a legal provision under Article 17 of GDPR. In the context of negative news articles, it gives you the right to request the content be removed from search engine results when your name is searched. Since your name is considered personal data, you have the right to protect it. You can also exercise this data protection right multiple times if necessary.
When Can I Use the Right to Erasure to Remove Negative Articles from the Internet?
The right to erasure can help block unwanted and damaging search results, especially if the content is harmful, outdated, irrelevant, or misleading – particularly if it’s negatively impacting your personal or professional life. If you're unsure whether you have sufficient grounds for removal, visit our helpful ‘Who Can Apply?’ page.
How to Apply for Right to Be Forgotten:
Anyone in the UK can apply for the Right to Be Forgotten, and we offer a practical free guide for a DIY approach. However, requests may be declined if it can be argued that the public interest outweighs your privacy rights. Newspapers and media outlets may exploit these loopholes to keep their stories online. For the best success at removal, it’s recommended to seek the assistance of skilled privacy lawyers.
How Can Internet Erasure Help?
Using your Right to Erasure can be difficult due to press freedoms and the public's right to know. That’s where Internet Erasure comes in. Our team of expert privacy lawyers specialise in removing negative news articles, having taken down 50,000 damaging stories, links, and images from search engine results over the years.
As part of our process, we use the Right to Be Forgotten, along with defamation, copyright, and privacy laws, to remove news articles and related content from online platforms. Our team will work relentlessly to navigate all complexities and clear your name, no matter how many submissions, reviews, or appeals it takes.
Please contact us to see if we can help rebuild your reputation – simply email [email protected], call 0333 252 0923, or message via SMS or WhatsApp at 07565 130 116. Alternatively, you can submit a convenient initial enquiry form.
