DD upset when she Google searches her name - what can we do?

[IceskaterTwirl]

When my DD was much younger (like 2), she was diagnosed with autism. DH and I, with the very best of intentions, got involved with a local autism charity and did various fundraising events, some of which were reported in the local press/TV. We were seeking to destigmitize autism (how naive) and readily agreed to speak about DD being diagnosed with the disability. We were, sincerely, trying to help other parents come to terms with an autism diagnosis!

Fast forward 15 years and, if DD has autism, no one would know. She was quite possibly misdiagnosed as her diagnosis was when she was under 3 years old. She is now in Y13 and heading for at a top RG to do STEM.

When she Googles her name, autism comes up. She is very upset about this and I totally understand why. She rightly observes that future BFs, employers etc will have preconceptions about her and, as I say, she was probably misdiagnosed.

DH and I feel awful that we have put her in this position. Is there anything we can do to remove old news articles from the internet/social media?

Surely if she was a young child theylll have no way of identifying that they are the same person?

When you google my name there is an artist, a musician, a journalist and a famous author - they have no way of knowing which I am without a photo of me attached to the stories that is identifying

Also if they're in the press email their complaints department and ask for a takedown for the described reason.

Send a link to each one.

If they're able to still access the old stories on their input system (could go either way) they may do so as an act of benevolence for your daughters privacy. They may not be able to do this but they also might because the stories are unlikely to still be getting views.

Oh balls just see this was sorted. Happy for you.

Irrespective of the reasons for wanting to content removed you don't need to spend a large sum of money with a 'reputation manager' with such a modest number of questionably glowing reviews on trustpilot.

The ICO page here:
ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/individual-rights/right-to-erasure/

Explains the whole process in fairly straightforward language and its a case of sending emails with the requests. You don't need to pay anyone to send a few emails for you let alone a fixed price starting at over £700 with no guarantee of outcome baked in.

Content about a child more than 10 years ago is not likely to be a contentious request - run through the process yourself.
Paying for PR companies to get involved is more relevant when your newly high profile employee has a teenage history of drunken or disorderly behaviour to hide.

Just had a PM recommending a company called xxxxxxx Trust pilot reviews look great. Thank you.

Wow. How fortunate. I wonder why they PMd and didn't just post if here for everyone to see.

If you write / email the relevant publication and cite right to be forgotten the major ones will probably take them down. I work for a major news group and we have a department dealing with things like this.

@IceskaterTwirl glad you have got this sorted. I wanted some news stories I found upsetting removing and I did it by contacting the websites and using the right to be forgotten legislation. I got everything removed. Every photo, link and trace of the story. It was a huge relief.

Coz it would be against MN rules. Simples, lovely

what a result for you @PolicyOfTruth. So great and what a relief it must be. I feel on top of the world tonight (witness still buzzing at 2am) as DD ‘s (unwitting) online presence will be sorted out. Our fault for causing this and making a 3 y.o a kinda poster girl for a (prematurely) diagnosed disability. Let it be a lesson to other parents!

I've occasionally recommended names before on MN - where I could describe specific experience and its not broken any rules.

I would caution you to take advice from any PMer who recommends companies with such a modest review list and who charge a significant flat rate with no guarantee around results.

As I said above - this is something you can do for free with a few emails if you are concerned. You don't need to spend in excess of 700 quid for someone else to send those emails.

What rule?

You can pay people to wipe your digital footprint. Went to a school internet safety thing recently and apparently it's very big business in the US in advance of college admission.