Online Publication Claims: Takedown and Complaint Form Links – Guy Vassall-Adams QC and Hugh Tomlinson QC

One of the issues lawyers often get asked by their clients is what steps they can take to get unlawful or offensive content removed from the internet without having to bring legal proceedings. The major providers of information society services all provide takedown and complaint forms so that issues can be raised about unlawful material which is published or made available by them.

In many cases these forms can be used to have unlawful content removed altogether, while in other cases such requests may be a first step taken before the commencement of proceedings.

These takedown and complaint forms are sometimes difficult to find.  In this post we provide a list of the relevant links (details of which found in Chapters 1 and 2 of Online Publication Claims and on the dedicated website).  They are listed in alphabetical order of service provider.

These online forms are often best way to deal with online abuse or the dissemination of false material. Although the categories of content covered by the forms varies, typically they cover abusive or offensive material (which may amount to harassment or bullying), private or confidential information including bank account and credit card details as well as information relating to people’s private and sex lives, and information that is the subject of a court order (e.g. an anonymity order). Not all providers allow individuals to complain about libel issues but sometimes libel complaints can be raised using forms that allow the reporting of “other removal issues”. In the case of search engines, there are also forms to block search results in Europe under the “right to be forgotten” established by the Google Spain case.

Bing

Bing has a form for reporting concerns including offensive material and private information.

There is a form to make a request to Block Bing Search Results in Europe.

Blogger

Blogger has a form entitled “Someone is posting my private information or explicit photos or videos of me without my consent”

There is a form for reporting Harassment and bullying content on Blogger

For reporting on content that may defamation/libel it is necessary to use the form entitled “Report other legal removal issue”.

Facebook

There is a page entitled “How to Report Things” which explains how profiles, posts, photos, messages which breach “Community Standards” can be reported to Facebook.

Google

Google has a webpage for those who are seeking to remove content from any of its services under applicable laws. It provides a short video explaining the process.

For removal of personal information, such as a bank account number, an image of a handwritten signature, or a nude or sexually explicit image or video users should complete the “Remove information from Google” form.

For the removal of defamatory content it is necessary to complete the form entitled “Report other legal removal issue.”

In order to request removal of content indexed on Google Search based on European data protection law Google provides a form entitled EU Privacy Removal.

Instagram

Instagram has a page entitled “Reporting harassment or bullying on Instagram” and a report form.

There is also a page entitled “Exposed Private Information” and a report form.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn has a form to report inaccurate information on another person’s profile.

There are also web page explaining how to report fake profiles or impersonation issues.

Twitter

Twitter has a page which provides an overview of how to report potential violations of the Twitter Rules and Terms of Service.  These violations do not include “defamatory posts”.

There are specific forms for three kinds of wrongdoing:

• Private information which is posted on Twitter can be reported using this form.
• Impersonation accounts can be reported using this form
• Abusive behaviour – in violation of the Twitter Rules – can be reported using this form

WordPress

WordPress.com provides a form entitled “Report content to WordPress.com staff” which allows, inter alia, reporting of content for being abusive.

Yahoo

Yahoo provides a form for Requests to Block search results for European Residents.

YouTube

YouTube has a page entitled “Safety and Abuse Reporting” – covering among other things harassment and cyberbullying, impersonation, violent threats.  There is no option for dealing with defamation.

There is a page entitled “YouTube Privacy Guidelines” which provides, in turn, a link to the Privacy Complaint Process.