Who Cannot Apply:
The following categories are generally unsuitable for the Right to be Forgotten and we do not normally accept instructions in these circumstances (although each case is assessed individually and exceptions may apply).
The following categories are generally unsuitable for the Right to be Forgotten and we do not normally accept instructions in these circumstances (although each case is assessed individually and exceptions may apply).
✘Recent Publicity and Time-Sensitive Matters
We do not act in emergency or high-pressure matters, or cases involving ongoing, recent, or emerging publicity.
Right to be Forgotten cases often depend upon the passage of time and a careful balancing of privacy rights against public interest.
Timing is therefore a significant factor when assessing eligibility.
Our Senior Caseworker explains this in an article published by Legal Futures.
Although a case may not be suitable today, it may become suitable in the future.
✘ Current Allegations, Ongoing Proceedings and Potential Evidence
Current allegations of criminal conduct, active criminal investigations, ongoing criminal proceedings, unresolved civil disputes, or material which may constitute evidence of crime.
This includes matters which have not yet been determined by a court, allegations which remain under investigation, convicted persons awaiting sentence, defendants awaiting trial, and publicity concerning alleged criminal conduct which has not yet been tested through the criminal justice process.
Examples include recent allegations of fraud, assault, harassment, or videos featuring arrests or allegations which remain unresolved.
We will usually only consider such matters once allegations have been tested through the criminal justice process, charges have been dropped, no further action has been taken, proceedings have concluded, or sufficient time has passed for the matter to be reasonably considered resolved.
We will also not undertake work to remove material which we reasonably believe may constitute evidence of crime, for example recent threats, CCTV footage, assault videos, screenshots of criminal activity, or other material capable of being used in a criminal investigation, unless sufficient time has elapsed for the criminal justice process to take its course or appropriate written clearance has been obtained from a relevant authority, typically the police.
✘ Public Interest and Public Figures
Content relating to people who have run for political office, been substantially involved in politics or lobbying, acted as religious leaders or journalists, or who have otherwise intentionally entered the public eye within the last 10 years.
Legitimate personal opinions or referenced criticism of a business, or opinions relating to an individual's current business practices, published within the last 5 years where that individual continues to work in the same or a similar industry.
✘ Corporate and Regulatory Records
Companies House records relating to active companies are not generally removable unless a Person at Risk of Violence (PARV) Order, Threat to Life Notice (formerly Osman Warning), or similar official order has been issued.
Content relating to dissolved companies is often eligible however, as is content from unofficial websites which merely republish Companies House data.
Current and unexpired Company Director Disqualifications or Bankruptcy Restriction Orders are not generally eligible for removal.
✘ Court Orders and Ongoing Restrictions
Any person, whether convicted or acquitted, who remains subject to an unexpired Ancillary Court Order or similar ongoing legal restriction is generally ineligible for the Right to be Forgotten in relation to that matter.
Examples include, Restraining Orders, Financial Reporting Orders (FRO), Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPO), Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPO), Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (SOPO), Criminal Behaviour Orders and Director Disqualifications.
✘ Serious Criminal Convictions
✘ Current Imprisonment
We do not act for clients who are currently imprisoned, although we may act, via an appointed family member or representative, to remove content wholly unrelated to their current sentence or remand period.
✘ Dark Web Content
People seeking removal of content located exclusively on the so-called Dark Web (the part of the internet which is not visible to search engines and which requires the use of specialist anonymous browsing software to access). We do not access the Dark Web under any circumstances and do not recommend that others attempt to do so.
We do not act in emergency or high-pressure matters, or cases involving ongoing, recent, or emerging publicity.
Right to be Forgotten cases often depend upon the passage of time and a careful balancing of privacy rights against public interest.
Timing is therefore a significant factor when assessing eligibility.
Our Senior Caseworker explains this in an article published by Legal Futures.
Although a case may not be suitable today, it may become suitable in the future.
✘ Current Allegations, Ongoing Proceedings and Potential Evidence
Current allegations of criminal conduct, active criminal investigations, ongoing criminal proceedings, unresolved civil disputes, or material which may constitute evidence of crime.
This includes matters which have not yet been determined by a court, allegations which remain under investigation, convicted persons awaiting sentence, defendants awaiting trial, and publicity concerning alleged criminal conduct which has not yet been tested through the criminal justice process.
Examples include recent allegations of fraud, assault, harassment, or videos featuring arrests or allegations which remain unresolved.
We will usually only consider such matters once allegations have been tested through the criminal justice process, charges have been dropped, no further action has been taken, proceedings have concluded, or sufficient time has passed for the matter to be reasonably considered resolved.
We will also not undertake work to remove material which we reasonably believe may constitute evidence of crime, for example recent threats, CCTV footage, assault videos, screenshots of criminal activity, or other material capable of being used in a criminal investigation, unless sufficient time has elapsed for the criminal justice process to take its course or appropriate written clearance has been obtained from a relevant authority, typically the police.
✘ Public Interest and Public Figures
Content relating to people who have run for political office, been substantially involved in politics or lobbying, acted as religious leaders or journalists, or who have otherwise intentionally entered the public eye within the last 10 years.
Legitimate personal opinions or referenced criticism of a business, or opinions relating to an individual's current business practices, published within the last 5 years where that individual continues to work in the same or a similar industry.
✘ Corporate and Regulatory Records
Companies House records relating to active companies are not generally removable unless a Person at Risk of Violence (PARV) Order, Threat to Life Notice (formerly Osman Warning), or similar official order has been issued.
Content relating to dissolved companies is often eligible however, as is content from unofficial websites which merely republish Companies House data.
Current and unexpired Company Director Disqualifications or Bankruptcy Restriction Orders are not generally eligible for removal.
✘ Court Orders and Ongoing Restrictions
Any person, whether convicted or acquitted, who remains subject to an unexpired Ancillary Court Order or similar ongoing legal restriction is generally ineligible for the Right to be Forgotten in relation to that matter.
Examples include, Restraining Orders, Financial Reporting Orders (FRO), Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPO), Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPO), Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (SOPO), Criminal Behaviour Orders and Director Disqualifications.
✘ Serious Criminal Convictions
- Convictions for terrorism-related offences, regardless of sentence length.
- Convictions for in-person sexual offences, regardless of sentence length.
- Convictions for in-person offences against children, regardless of sentence length.
- Prison sentences of more than 4 years imprisonment for serious violent, sexual, or terrorism offences.
- Prison sentences of more than 4 years imprisonment for other offences, where less than 10 years have elapsed since conviction.
✘ Current Imprisonment
We do not act for clients who are currently imprisoned, although we may act, via an appointed family member or representative, to remove content wholly unrelated to their current sentence or remand period.
✘ Dark Web Content
People seeking removal of content located exclusively on the so-called Dark Web (the part of the internet which is not visible to search engines and which requires the use of specialist anonymous browsing software to access). We do not access the Dark Web under any circumstances and do not recommend that others attempt to do so.
This overview does not cover all circumstances. Every case is assessed individually. We reserve the right to decline any instruction and are not obliged to provide detailed reasons for our decision, although we will usually provide general guidance where appropriate.
Maintained by Caroline Hart, Clerk to the caseworkers, Internet Erasure Ltd. This page reflects the firm's current eligibility and case acceptance policies. Last updated 31 May 2026.
