How can I get an on-line publication about me removed?
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How can I get an on-line publication about me removed?
An on-line publication site published the details of my marriage and our full home address on their website without our authorization/permission. I contacted the website 3 times and requested this publication to be removed, but they are refusing to respond to me. This is disturbing, especially the home address situation, as this publication is the first thing that comes up when our full names are typed in google. I would like to know my legal rights as I am willing to take legal action if necessary.
Asked on August 26, 2011 Texas
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Unfortunately, you probably do not have a right to have this information removed. Assuming that all the information posted is public information--i.e. is available from public records, which may well be the case (e.g., there is no privacy expectation in an address; anyone may publish or republish it)--then someone may post it to the web or otherwise publish it at will. The problem is, there is no right to control publicly available information, and there never has been; it's merely that the Internet has made it much easier to both find the public information in the first place, and then after finding it, to republish or distribute it broadly. However, the ease of doing so does not change the basis rule that someone may publish public information without liability, and without anyone from having the right to force them to stop.
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