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Your reputation matters to us:

LAWYERS REMOVING DAMAGING CONTENT ONLINE

The internet is an ever-evolving public platform. As more information is published online, the potential for content-related issues expands exponentially. As a result, more people and businesses face dire content removal issues.

Whether you are a business or an individual, your online reputation is extremely important. When meeting someone new, one of the first things that people do is Google you. Whether you are applying for college, searching for a new job or simply pursuing online dating, you are likely to be Googled. Likewise, companies are often Googled before customers have any marketplace interaction with that business. Your search results affect your future and maintaining positive search results for your name or business is a reputational necessity.

When negative internet content shows up in your search results, the impact can be devastating. People tend to believe what they read on the Internet, even if it is false or inaccurate. Additionally, negative content has a tendency to spread rapidly. It can be quickly shared across social media platforms, scraped to other websites, and can even go viral. The more content spreads online, the harder and more time consuming it becomes to remove. It is imperative that negative internet content be removed as quickly as possible to mitigate reputational damages.

Important to Know:

What is internet defamation?

Internet defamation occurs when someone posts false statements of fact about you on the internet that harm your reputation. Internet defamation can occur in a negative Facebook post, a harmful YouTube video or even a fake and negative Google review about your business. Online defamation can be removed from the internet.

How Can KJK’s Content Removal Attorneys help?

We assist in removing negative content from the internet

If you are dealing with internet content related issues, it is important to work with an experienced Content Removal attorney who can counsel you in selecting the best removal strategy for your unique situation. Our team of attorneys, cyber-investigators and public relations professionals work quickly and collaboratively to devise strategies to assist clients in tackling difficult and damaging content removal issues.

For more information on how KJK’s content removal attorneys work to remove specific internet content, check out our service pages on popular content issues:

  • Online Defamation 
  • Negative Business Reviews 
  • Blogger and Influencer Issues 
  • Stolen Photo and Video Content 
  • General Content Removal 

Need to Speak to an attorney? Contact Us

Experience Matters:

KJK’s Attorneys are Experienced at Removing Damaging Internet Content

Just because something on the internet is damaging does not mean that it is online defamation. Nevertheless, damaging internet content may be able to be removed through other legal theories or methods.

At KJK, our content removal attorneys have experience tackling a wide variety of internet-related issues and have been able to remove difficult and damaging content from the internet on behalf of our clients. Our attorneys regularly work to remove content from search engines, social media sites, news platforms, blogs, forums, directory sites, shaming sites, pornographic websites and more. 

We frequently provide content removal services for our clients, such as:

  • Removal of Defamatory Content
  • Updating, De-Indexing or Removal of Negative News Articles
  • Ceasing Internet Threats, Harassment and Hate Speech
  • Takedown of Personal and Private Information From the Internet
  • Removal of Negative Business Reviews
  • Copyrighted Content Takedowns
  • Blogger or Influencer Content Exploitation
  • Identifying and Removing Revenge Porn
  • Stopping Sextortion Attempts
  • Deletion of Impersonation Accounts
  • Identification or Unmasking of Anonymous Online Actors & Removal of Their Content
  • Mugshot Removal and Takedown From State Databases
Scenarios We Can Assist With
  • A Twitter user falsely Tweets that a person sexually assaulted them.
  • A TikTok user publishes an untrue and disparaging video about another individual, claiming that they committed a crime that they never committed.
  • A doctor receives five fake one-star reviews on their RateMDs page, claiming that this doctor committed malpractice when the doctor has no pending malpractice cases.
  • An anonymous Internet user publishes a post about a popular YouTube beauty blogger on Reddit, claiming that this blogger is an escort and makes her living engaging in prostitution.
  • A Facebook user falsely posts in a private group that a person is cheating on their spouse.
  • An Instagram influencer tells her followers on Instagram live to leave a one-star review on Google for a car dealership, falsely claiming that they engaged in fraudulent and unethical business practices. The dealership subsequently receives 50 negative reviews from people who have never utilized the business’s services.
  • A college student receives a naked photograph on his phone and posts the photo on the Internet. The photo gets scrapped (extracted and reposted) to various websites with the captions “cheater” and “slut.”

There are multiple ways we can help.

Our Content Removal Strategies

Our content removal attorneys use a variety of legal theories and content removal tactics to remove damaging internet content. This includes an intersection of defamation, privacy and intellectual property laws, as well as a knowledge of the terms of social media platforms. While content removal options widely vary depending on each individual situation, we typically use a combination of one or more of the following methods:

Reach out to the original poster and ask them to remove the content

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.

Reach out to the site admin and ask them to remove it

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.

Reach out to the site admin and offer to pay their processing fee

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.

Report the content to the website for a community guideline violation

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.

Reach out to Google and ask them to remove the content from search results

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.

Send a DMCA takedown notice

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.

Ask the website to add a no-index tag to the URL of the content you want removed

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.

File a lawsuit and receive a court order

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.

We’re Here for you:

Content Removal Frequently Asked Questions

Where does online defamation occur?

Online defamation commonly occurs on the following platforms:

  1. Search Engines (Google, Bing, etc.)
  2. Social Media Sites (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok)
  3. Forum Sites and Online Message Boards (Reddit, Lipstick Alley)
  4. Blogs and Vlogs (Youtube, WordPress)
  5. News Outlets
  6. Shaming Sites (TheDirty.com, TagYourSponsor.com)
  7. Review Platforms (Google, Yelp, RateMDs, Ratemyprofessor)

 

What are common defenses to defamation?

There are three common defenses to claims of defamation:

  1. The statement is true or substantially true
  2. The statement is opinion
  3. The statement is privileged (for example, statements made in the context of court proceedings are protected from defamation suits

 

The negative internet content about me is true. Can it still be removed?

Yes. Content does not have to be defamatory to be removed from the internet. Contact us to learn more about your content removal options.

 

When is a lawsuit warranted?

Sometimes, the only way to get content down is by filing a lawsuit to attain a court order compelling a person or site to remove content. Additionally, filing a lawsuit may be your only option if you are being defamed by an anonymous person. If the person defaming you is hiding behind a pseudonym, you may not be able to ascertain their identity without the subpoena power of the court.

 

Do I need an attorney if I am being defamed?

An attorney can seek a court order to have content removed. While you can hire a suppression expert to push down negative content, this is often costly and is only a temporary fix. Typically, the suppressed negative content will pop back up in the top of your search results after you stop working with the suppression specialist. Our results have a lasting impact.

 

Do I have to file a lawsuit to get content removed?

You do not need a court order to remove content from the internet. There are numerous other ways to remove content, for example, content that violates the community service violation of a website can often be removed by reaching out to the website administrator.

What platforms have you removed content from?

We have worked with content creators and influencers on social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Twitter and Instagram to tackle damaging internet problems and repair damaged reputations. We have also removed content from forum sites and gossip forums like Reddit and Lipstick Alley.

What do I do if I don’t know who published my content?

KJK has a range of investigative tools to assist victims in potentially identifying their perpetrators. While a victim will need to eventually identify their attacker to collect damages, they will not necessarily need to identity their attacker to remove the harmful content from the Internet.

Internet Defamation & Content Removal

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Internet Defamation & Content Removal

ATTORNEYS & Legal Team

“Ali was exceptional at getting our Internet defamation issue resolved quickly. She has vast knowledge on the subject we were dealing with, but we appreciated that she still listened to our concerns and molded her plan according to our needs. She looked out for us and someone we would highly recommend.”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“In the midst of a deeply painful situation I faced, Ms. Arko always—always—provided honed insight, sound judgment, and a profound knowledge of complex defamation and social media law. She demonstrated incredible expertise in rarified areas like search engine de-indexing, right alongside excellent listening and negotiating skills. While no one can guarantee outcomes, Ms. Arko’s obvious compassion and strong passion gave me confidence that everything possible was being done to aid me. I am grateful and highly recommend her.”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“Without reservation I recommend Ali Arko. Ali excels at assessing challenging and complex situations, determining an effective strategic response, and executing it thoroughly. Her experience and knowledge of the various online, media, and social media platforms is an absolute asset to anyone looking to remediate or address damaging content. I had confidence in Ali throughout the process because of her thorough explanations. Her strategies made sense and produced results. I have no doubt that Ali’s future clients will quickly have similar confidence in her expertise”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“I am thankful to Ali for helping my family through a difficult situation. Ali is very knowledgeable in her field. When we started working with Ali, she showed utmost commitment to helping us. She communicated clearly and was always available to answer our questions. She guided us through every step, kept us informed of all new developments, and delivered results we were hoping for. Ali brought expert technical skills and in-depth knowledge of social media platforms. I believe she can apply this skill set to any legal situation. I highly recommend Ali!”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“Miss Arko helped me navigate an extremely stressful scenario in an extremely timely manner. Her professionalism and calm demeanor helped me come up with a concrete plan of action. The case in question involved Extortion, and the content was sensitive in nature, but Miss Arko was able to give context and clarity that was sorely needed. The steps Miss Arko recommend led to a rapid resolution of the issue, and I knew that Miss Arko was available should the need arise. I would hire Miss Arko again in a heartbeat.”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“If you’re looking for a defamation and internet slander lawyer, your search stops here with Ali Arko at KJK. Her efficiency matches her passion. With her in your corner you feel like you have far more than adequate representation but someone who cares about you and your family. Thank you again Ali for helping our family.”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“In the midst of a deeply painful situation I faced, Ms. Arko always—always—provided honed insight, sound judgment, and a profound knowledge of complex defamation and social media law. She demonstrated incredible expertise in rarified areas like search engine de-indexing, right alongside excellent listening and negotiating skills. While no one can guarantee outcomes, Ms. Arko’s obvious compassion and strong passion gave me confidence that everything possible was being done to aid me. I am grateful and highly recommend her.”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“Ali was exceptional at getting our Internet Defamation issue resolved quickly. She has vast knowledge on the subject we were dealing with, but we appreciated that she still listened to our concerns and molded her plan according to our needs. She looked out for us and is someone we would highly recommend.”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“I am so thankful I was able to locate and retain Ali. I needed assistance with online defamation affecting my professional reputation and impacting my employment. Working with Ali, I got actual results, not just bills for strongly worded emails that went nowhere. Ali and her team helped navigate this unfortunately grey area of the law and was able to achieve takedown results assisting with my case.”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“To say Ali and her team were great is an understatement. I was involved in a legal matter that required out-of-the-box thinking and being on top of the legal game. Ali clearly showed this in handling my case. She was intelligent, hard-driving, and very communicative in all aspects of what happened to me. Do I recommend using this fantastic person and her team? Absolutely!”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“This law firm helped me to earn the justice I needed with their competence, compassion, and good communication. Ali Arko did an incredible job advising me on my case and got me everything I wanted. I will forever be grateful to her for how this outcome has changed my life, and for her top-notch support through the process.”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“From our first meeting, Attorney Ali Arko provided keen ears and a calming voice to bring a clear sense of the law to our conversation. Highly recommended by another attorney, I found Ali to be extremely well-versed in the law and pragmatic in her approach to obtaining justice for our son in an awkward situation that was initially impenetrable for us.”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“Without reservation, I recommend Ali Arko. Ali excels at assessing challenging and complex situations, determining an effective strategic response, and executing it thoroughly. Her experience and knowledge of the various online, media, and social media platforms is an absolute asset to anyone looking to remediate or address damaging content. I had confidence in Ali throughout the process because of her thorough explanations. Her strategies made sense and produced results. I have no doubt that Ali’s future clients will quickly have similar confidence in her expertise.”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“Attorney Arko understood the law and explained all the options that were available to us. She showed good judgement, perseverance, and a good communication style that helped her achieve a positive resolution. Attorney Arko was accessible, listened to our concerns, answered all our questions and followed through as needed. I would hire Attorney Arko again without a doubt.”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“I had a difficult situation with a well-read publication that Ali was able to navigate ever so carefully and delivered a positive result. She completely understands the overall situation, realizes it as an individual case, and works diligently for you.”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“Ali has been a wonderful help to me. She listens and provides accurate, balanced counsel. She was able to help me with a difficult issue and continues to be an excellent advocate for me. She contacted the editor of a local newspaper and was able to convince him to remove an inaccurate, damaging article about me from the Google search engine. She is professional and hard-working. Ali responds quickly to my questions. I am very pleased with her work!”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“Ali has been amazing throughout my entire experience. She had 100% success, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. She was professional throughout the entire process, kept in contact with me and answered any questions I had. She was a pleasure to have worked with. The entire process was seamless. Thank you again for all that you have done!”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“I did not believe we could find a resolution to our situation. The counterparty was difficult and demanding. Ali’s communication with me and tactical efficiency provided an outcome that exceeded my expectations. Because Ali is really smart and understands very well the subtle nuances of technology in the legal system my matter was quickly resolved.”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“Alexandra Arko is a compassionate professional. Not only was she a tremendous help while helping me with a difficult situation, [but she also] takes time to listen, offers deep and cogent advice, has integrity, and works hard for her clients. She was always honest with me from the beginning and took care of my problem in a very timely manner.”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

“I consulted with about a dozen attorneys that refused to take on this case deeming it impossible. Not only did Alexandra take this on headfirst, but she delivered the results I wanted, and at lightning speed! She’s truly an ace to have in your pocket when it comes to this new confusing area of internet law and will without a doubt be one of the best in the field quickly. Thanks to her, I have my name back, and can now forward with my life without this heavy burden following me around.”

 

– FORMER CLIENT ON ALI ARKO

Susan C. Stone

Partner

Kristina W. Supler

Partner

Anna E. Bullock

Associate

Dayna M. Hloska

Senior Counsel

Contact

CLEVELAND OFFICE

1375 East Ninth Street

One Cleveland Center, 29th Floor

Cleveland, OH 44114-1793

216-696-8700

 

 

COLUMBUS OFFICE

10 West Broad Street

One Columbus Center, Suite 2500

Columbus, OH 43215

614-427-5731