EraseMugshots

How Do I Delete My Personal Data on the Web?

Posted on by EraseMugshots

If you’ve ever asked, “how can I delete my personal data from the internet?” our guide will answer all of your questions and more.

In the digital age, your personal data is becoming increasingly available to the public through data brokers. Your personal details are now easily accessible from online data broker sites to public records.

The good news is that you can file a deletion request for your online account from online brokers to have your data deleted from data brokers. To enforce your data protection and delete your online accounts from data brokers or common websites, you’ll have to understand how data brokers work and how to file deletion requests.

Depending on the location and the type of information, this could include anything from email accounts and phone numbers to court and criminal records. You can search for your name in Google search results and databases to find out the spread of your data sharing and if it really goes against your data privacy.

Once an individual has identified the type of data publicly available via search results, you can officially file deletion requests. to permanently delete sensitive information.

Depending on the source, this may be as simple as submitting a request to the organization or institution to remove your digital footprint slowly. Alternatively, you can contact the relevant government agency or department, like the Electronic Frontier Foundation in San Francisco, to file a removal request to delete any additional information from their link that you don’t want to land in the wrong hands.

Suppose most companies decline to remove your information from the internet. In that case, you can consult a lawyer and ask how to make them legally required to remove personal information you don’t want to be posted on their website.

It’s a legitimate question: Can I delete my personal info from the web? Thankfully, the answer is a resounding YES.

Our guide below will provide all the details you need to understand personal data, where it comes from, and how to remove it. Let’s get started!

Different Types of Personal Data

Information is everywhere in today’s digital world, from your social media profiles to shopping sites. Instead of going off the grid altogether, you should learn about the different data types to help you make better choices when sharing your information with websites.

The four main types of information are financial, personal, contact, and online activity data.

Financial Information

Financial information includes your finances, such as credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and PayPal accounts. Companies often collect this information to process payments or verify identity.

It’s important to be careful when sharing this type of data, as it can be used to access your personal accounts. Ensure the sites with your personal information don’t share this information with other websites.

Personal Identity Information

Personal information is used to verify your identity, such as a driver’s license number, addresses, Social Security number, or passport. Companies often use this information to verify your identity when creating an account or accessing services in the future.

It’s important to know how this information is used and who has access to it. Privacy advocates usually recommend removing personal information from websites or services you don’t trust.

Sometimes personal information can include records of family members taken from old accounts or social media profiles. To remove personal information on the internet from popular brokers, you’ll have to contact their sites directly.

Contact Information

Contact information is used to contact you, such as your name, email address, home address, and phone number. Companies may collect this data to send marketing emails or target ads in the future as a way to attract potential consumers. Only give your contact information to the right person.

It’s important to know how this information is used and opt out of marketing emails and targeted ads if you don’t want to receive them. In the past, you’d have to fill out a paper form for one company to get your personal information, but now, everything can be done on the internet. Now, you’d have to opt-out of a website manually.

Online Activity Information

Finally, online activity information tackles your activities, like the websites you visit, the searches you make, the videos you watch, or any dark patterns. Companies collect this information to target ads and improve their services.

It’s important to know how this data is used and opt-out of targeted ads if you don’t want to receive them. Sometimes using an ad blocker is enough to stop unwanted ads.

Overall, it is important to know the different types of data online and how they can be used. You can stay safe and secure by understanding the different types of information and taking steps to protect your privacy.

Finding Your Personal Data on Public Records

If you’re looking for information about yourself, you should know that you can find your data on records. These records are available to the public and contain information about a person or company.

These records are created and maintained by government agencies, businesses, and individuals and can be accessed by anyone who requests them. You can familiarize yourself with privacy policies to control what type of information companies can get from the internet.

The types of information you can find on records vary depending on the type. For example, criminal records may contain your name, date of birth, charges, and convictions or sentences. Driver’s license records can include your name, address, license number, and any traffic violations. Property records may contain information about real estate you own, including ownership, mortgage information, and taxes paid.

In addition to government-maintained records, you can find information about yourself in other places. For instance, consumer reports may contain information about your credit history, employment history, and other financial information.

Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can also contain other information. However, it’s important to be aware of any privacy settings you may have enabled to limit the available information to other companies from your account.

You may need to visit several sites to get more comprehensive information from your account. The best way to access your information is to use a public records search engine. These search engines will scour multiple sites on the internet for any links related to your name, address, phone number, or other identifying information. Your search results should provide you with a comprehensive list of records you can review for your account.

When researching your information from different sites on the internet, it’s important to be aware of any state privacy laws that may apply. Certain account records may be off-limits in some cases due to laws protecting individuals’ privacy. It’s also important to be aware of any fees associated with obtaining access to records.

By understanding where to find your data on records, you can better protect your information from different companies and stay informed about any available information. With the right tools, you can quickly and easily access the links you need to stay informed and secure.

Can I Delete My Personal Data from Public Records? Yes You Can!

If you’re concerned about your information being exposed or shared on records with different companies, it’s important to take steps to protect your privacy. Deleting your information from records from different sites — or hiring a team to handle background check removal services for you —  is one way to do that. Here are five steps to delete your data on records.

Step 1: Gather Your Documentation

The first step to deleting your information from records is to gather the necessary documentation. You’ll need to provide proof of your information, such as a driver’s license, Social Security number, or passport, and evidence of your residence. You should also provide proof of any name changes and any legal documents that may be relevant to the request.

Step 2: Request to Delete Your Data

Once you’ve gathered all the necessary documents, you’ll need to formally request to delete your data from company records. Depending on your jurisdiction, this could be done online or on-site. You’ll need to provide the documentation you gathered in Step 1 and explain why you’d like to delete your information from a Google site.

Step 3: Wait for a Response

Once you’ve requested the site remove your information, you’ll need to wait for a response. Depending on the jurisdiction, this could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Check your email or other correspondence regularly to ensure you don’t miss any updates.

Step 4: Follow Up

If you don’t receive a response within a reasonable time, it’s important to follow up. You’ll need to contact the agency or department responsible for managing the records and inquire about the status of your request.

Step 5: Check for Your Data

Once you’ve received confirmation that your request has been processed, it’s important to check for your data on the web. You can do this by searching online, visiting the agency or department responsible for records, or using a service that scours Google to look for any page that includes your info. This will help ensure that your information has been removed.

Following these five steps, you can effectively delete your information from your records and protect your privacy as a consumer. It’s important to note that the process may vary depending on your jurisdiction, so it’s important to research your area’s specific requirements and regulations page by page.

Why Leaving Your Data on Public Records Can be Dangerous

Leaving your data on record can be extremely dangerous without caution. This is because records are essentially a collection of all the records and documents available to the public on Google.

This includes things like birth certificates, marriage records, death certificates, criminal records, property records, and more. These records can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection, leaving your personal information open to potential misuse for companies to convert you into consumers.

Leaving your record information can make you vulnerable to identity theft, fraud, and other malicious activities. Information thieves can use this information to use your bank accounts, create a false identity, access an illegal service, or commit other crimes. Additionally, fraudsters can use the data to make purchases using their credit card or even to commit other financial crimes.

Aside from the risk of your information being stolen, leaving your data on record can also lead to unwanted solicitations. People may use the data to send unsolicited emails or even to contact you with offers of an unwanted service. Data brokers are the most common source of unwanted solicitations, identity theft, and online harassment. These data brokers scrape publicly-available records and share them online, sometimes for a fee.

Even if you are careful to verify the accuracy of the data you leave on records, there is still a risk that someone may be able to get the data and use it illegally. One of the best ways to protect your data when leaving it on record is to use a secure connection such as a VPN.

This will help encrypt your data and keep it out of the hands of potential criminals. Additionally, it is important to be aware of the data you are sharing and only to provide the necessary information. Finally, practicing good online security habits, such as using strong passwords and avoiding suspicious websites, is also important.

Delete My Personal Data: Benefits of Removing Personal Data from Public Records

The internet, Google specifically, has made it easier to obtain large amounts of information quickly and easily. With the click of a mouse, you can now use records and find almost anything about anyone. Unfortunately, this includes data like your home address, phone number, and other details.

As a result of this increased data usage, it’s important to consider removing your data from records. Doing so can provide many benefits and help protect your privacy. Let’s examine some advantages of removing your data from records.

Information Protection

First, removing your data from records can help protect your information from being stolen. Keeping your private information out of the public domain makes it more difficult for criminals to use it. This can be especially important if you’ve been the victim of stolen information.

Unwanted Messages or Calls

Second, removing your data from records can help avoid unwanted contacts from a telemarketer company, collection agencies, and other entities. Removing your data from records can reduce the chances of receiving annoying and intrusive calls and emails.

Reputation Protection

Third, removing your data from records can help protect your reputation. Your data can be used to create a false impression of you or to spread false information about you. Keeping it private can help prevent this from happening.

Privacy Maintenance

Finally, removing your data from records can help maintain your privacy. In an age where almost anything can be found on the internet, it’s important to control what company can use your personal info. Removing your data from the web can help ensure that only those you want to have the authorization to do.

Can My Personal Data Ever be Deleted?

If you’ve been a victim of data theft or just don’t want your information to be stolen, there are ways to remove your information from the internet. Removing critical information can be tricky, so it’s advised to contact professionals to handle the job.

The truth is that critical information like your mugshots is extremely hard to scrub off the internet. While it’s not illegal to post certain critical information, sometimes this information can have drastic effects on your reputation.

If removing your information is too complicated, give us a call! Learn more about the process of removing your mugshots and other sensitive information online by calling 866-601-6803 for a free, no-obligation privacy consultation.

How Do I Remove Myself From Search Engines?

Posted on by EraseMugshots

If you’ve ever asked the question, “can I remove myself from search engines?” this step-by-step guide will show you how.

How do you remove yourself from search results? Is it even possible? For anyone that has asked the question: “how do I remove myself from search engines?” this is the place to find out!

 

Here, we go over some proven tips on how to erase your presence from the major internet search engines, making you virtually invisible and untraceable to anyone you don’t want to find you. So if you would like to adopt a low profile or remain incognito for whatever reason, even if you just want to enhance your online privacy, read on for some highly effective suggestions!

 

Reasons to Remove Yourself From Search Engines

 

Why would you want to remove your name or brand from Google search results? There are many valid reasons to do so, including the following:

 

  • Preventing your sensitive information from spreading online
  • Concealing your location history
  • Avoiding identity theft
  • Enhancing your privacy
  • Improving your online reputation

 

All these are legitimate reasons to want to erase all mentions of your name from Google and other search engines. But perhaps the most compelling reasons to do so are to protect your personal information and avoid being victimized by identity theft and data breaches.

 

When personal and financial information falls into the wrong hands, the consequences can be devastating. Cybercriminals could make purchases in your name, deplete your bank account, and access your most private account information.

 

It’s even worse when you become the victim of identity theft. Cybercriminals can assume your identity, perform high-value transactions in your name, and gain access to your personal contacts. In some cases, the damage can take years to rectify.

 

Search Engines: A Double-Edged Sword

 

Search engines are among the most widely-used tools nowadays. Almost everyone who uses the internet uses some search engine or another, often several times a day. In fact, you likely chanced upon this article you are now reading after searching on a search engine like Google.

 

But the very qualities that make search engines so useful ‒ power, accessibility, and zero cost ‒ also make it easy to obtain personal info on almost anyone. Suppose you haven’t taken steps to protect your online account privacy or use a virtual private network. In that case, it is probably extremely easy to find your personal information with a few clicks of a mouse button.

 

This isn’t an issue for most people, including those with nothing to hide. But even if you use a VPN service, keeping your personal information private and preventing it from falling into the wrong hands is good practice.

 

The Dangers of Having Your Personal Information Easily Accessible

 

Consider the implications of having your personal information so readily available. Cybercriminals can hack into your email account and contact anyone you’ve sent or received emails from. They can search for you on Google and gather even more information about you.

 

That’s not all. They could even find you on Google maps, find old mugshots, dig up your search history or your YouTube history, study your social media channels and copy your speech patterns, online mannerisms, and how you post online. Digging into your background and investigating your connections makes it relatively easy to formulate an accurate profile of you.

 

This is where it gets really bad. After establishing a reasonable facsimile of your profile, they can impersonate you via email or social media. They can reach out to your contacts that they’ve previously gathered and pretend to be you.

 

The messages don’t even have to come from your personal email or social media accounts. As long as they have your profile picture and public records, they can copy your online persona and easily fool your friends and family members.

 

At that point, it’s a trivial matter to send out malware and phishing links to steal even more data and personal information. And because the links appear to be coming from you, your contacts won’t be any the wiser.

 

Ultimately, all your contacts will be at risk, all because of your personal information was so easy to find. But you can prevent this from happening by taking a few simple precautions and most importantly, removing your name from the major search engines!

 

Steps for Removing Your Name From the Search Engines

 

How do you remove your name from the major search engines? Unfortunately, it isn’t as simple as clicking an “opt-out” link. Furthermore, every search engine has a different method for erasing your presence. And in most cases, you will probably have to reach out to the websites that show your name on the search engine results pages (SERPs).

 

But fear not. Removing most mentions of your name from the different search engines is doable if you put in the time and effort.

 

Keep in mind that it is virtually impossible to eradicate all traces of your online presence from search engines. But the steps described here will at least minimize your digital footprint, reduce the ‘breadcrumbs’ that lead back to you, and make it more difficult for anyone to find you online.

 

Here’s how to do it:

 

1. Tighten Up Your Social Media Security

 

Securing your social media accounts mostly involves setting them to “private,” which limits other people’s ability to access the information associated with these online accounts. For purposes of securing your personal data, this is the next best thing to deleting them entirely, which is a pretty drastic approach!

 

As you may have probably noticed, search engines place a high premium on social media content. All the major search engines tend to rank social media sites higher than all the other sites. This means that anyone searching for your name or photo will likely see your social media account on the first page of the SERPs.

 

The most effective solution to prevent this is to “privatize” your accounts on any social media platforms you still use, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. While you’re at it, dig up your old accounts on Tumblr, Google+, and MySpace as well.

 

Don’t forget to search for accounts on photo-sharing services you no longer use. It would probably be best to delete your accounts on these services permanently if you no longer use them. This solution will go a long way toward enhancing your online privacy.

 

Steps for Making Your Facebook Profile Private

 

  1. Click on the ▼ button on the bar of the page’s upper right corner.
  2. Select the “Settings and Privacy” option and click “Privacy.”
  3. Click “Privacy” on the sidebar to the left of the page.
  4. Scroll to the page’s bottom and click on the “edit” icon on the “Do you want search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile?” option.
  5. Uncheck the box that says “Allow search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile.”

 

You can also tighten up your privacy settings even more by setting your posts to be viewable to “friends only.”

 

Steps for Making Your Twitter Account Private

 

Like many other social media platforms, Twitter tends to rank highly in the major search engines. Consequently, any tweets you make with your real name ‒ and even those that mention you by name ‒ will probably appear on the first page of the SERPs.

 

You can avoid this by setting your Twitter account to private in your privacy preferences. This makes your tweets private and only makes them viewable to people you allow to follow you. Here’s how to do it:

 

  1. In your Twitter account, click on the “More” button marked by three dots in the left sidebar.
  2. Click on the “Privacy and settings” option.
  3. Click on “Your account.”
  4. Select the “Privacy and safety” option.
  5. Click on “Audience and tagging.”
  6. Check the box marked “Protect your Tweets.”

 

Steps for Making Your Instagram Account Private

 

The process for making your Instagram account private is similar:

 

  1. In your Instagram account, click on the three bars at the page’s top right corner.
  2. Click on “Settings.”
  3. Select the “Privacy” option.
  4. Slide the bar to enable “Private Account.”

 

2. Delete Your Posts, Comments, and Reviews

 

Forum posts, blog comments, and product reviews have a way of accumulating over the years. Most people think nothing of dropping a few words here and there, whether in response to a blog comment or to share positive‒or negative‒opinions about a product or service.

 

But all these words represent digital ‘breadcrumbs’ that provide some insight into your purchasing habits, manner of speech, and online behavior. And all of these could lead back to you or form the basis of a fake profile that cybercriminals could fabricate to impersonate you.

 

What makes these breadcrumbs even more dangerous is that they remain online for years‒decades, even. Do a quick search for one of your old user names and a particular forum and you would be surprised at how far back you can go.

 

So how do you get rid of your past posts, comments, reviews, and other data? Unfortunately, the only way to do so is by deep scanning the SERPs and deleting each instance manually. It’s much more time-consuming than an opt-out process and will take more than a few hours, but it can be done.

 

The process is slightly more complicated for unused accounts or posts on websites and other services in which you have no control. For such posts, you will have to communicate with each individual site owner directly. Most will be glad to accommodate your request to take down the post.

 

3. Reach Out to Google

 

In some cases, your private information could appear on the SERPs without your knowledge or doing. This is a bit more difficult to rectify and probably requires communicating directly with Google.

 

Google will actually remove publicly available information if you want to get rid of it. But this isn’t commonly done, and you will have to provide proof that the information points back to you and that its existence is damaging or detrimental.

 

Google will be more likely to accommodate your request if the information truly poses a risk to you, such as your Social Security or bank account number. However, you will still have to submit a formal legal request before the company takes action.

 

Keep in mind that this solution won’t help you get rid of unsavory information about you on search engines. Google won’t accommodate personal requests of that nature, so use this method only to remove sensitive personal or financial information.

 

4. Delete Your Data From People Search Sites

 

Data brokers and data collection agencies are some of the biggest culprits in spreading personal information on the internet. Of course, social media, “free” apps, and app-based games play their part as well.

 

The thing about “free” games and apps is they aren’t really “free.” As with most products or services that are offered at seemingly no cost, the customer is actually the product. In exchange for the use of these apps, you are “paying” the creator with your personal data and information. From there, it’s only a matter of time before that information becomes public interest on the internet.

 

What type of information do you give up to data broker services? For starters, you give them access to your:

 

  • Full name
  • Home address
  • Phone number
  • Social Security number (partial)
  • Voting records
  • Birthdate
  • Marital status

 

People search websites are equally at fault when it comes to sharing data and personal information. Sites such as Intelius.com, MyLife.com, PeopleFinders.com, Spokeo.com, and Whitepages.com actively share data as part of their operations.

 

These “services” purchase personal information that they later post publicly with free accounts. Although some people search sites offer a paid service for certain accounts, the associated information still appears in the search engines.

 

Some of the biggest data brokers aggregate personal information from different sources. They then create profiles and make them available to marketers, government agencies, and other organizations.

 

Deleting your information from these sites can be even more challenging than removing them from Google. Many don’t have contact pages, and you typically have to search through these sites and request that your information be deleted individually. This can be very time-consuming, often taking 60 days or more.

 

Here’s how to remove yourself from WhitePages.com:

 

  1. At the Whitepages site, type in your name and ZIP code
  2. Click on the “view details” option for your record
  3. Copy the provided URL
  4. Browse to the opt-out page and paste the URL
  5. Click the “opt-out” link
  6. Click on “remove me”
  7. Specify your reason for wanting to be removed
  8. Verify your identity by providing your phone number. You will then receive a verification code
  9. When called by the WhitePages robot, provide your verification code

 

5. Close Your Online Shopping Accounts

 

Do you have one or more e-commerce accounts? You might be surprised to find out that the information on them is publicly available.

 

Take Amazon, for example. If you’ve created a “Wish List” with the site, it is accessible to anyone on the internet by default. If you want to keep it from view, you will have to set your list to “private” to prevent Google from indexing them.

 

Some e-commerce sites don’t even allow you to set your information to “private” in your account preferences. If that is the case, consider closing your account and shifting to a company that allows you to control the privacy of your information.

 

Remember that any information associated with your profile can be used by data brokers if it is publicly viewable. If they can’t readily access your data, you lose your value as a marketable commodity and reduce the chances of having your information fall into the wrong hands.

 

6. Delete Your Unused Email Accounts

 

Even old and unused email accounts can put you at risk for unauthorized data access and identity theft. Prevent cybercriminals from accessing your email history and contact list by getting rid of email addresses you no longer use.

 

After you delete your email address, any messages sent to it will bounce back to the sender. The address will then eventually be scrubbed from the databases of the email services provider, so you have one less source of potentially damaging information to worry about.

 

7. Get Professional Help

 

The removal process for personal information from the internet would be a lot easier if you didn’t have to search for each instance one by one to permanently delete them. Most people faced with the prospect of having to track down each and every source simply give up.

 

One thing that adds considerably to the challenge is data brokers’ use of interfaces that scrape the web for data from various sources, including social media, public records, and corporate files. Users then end up having online profiles in their name even without giving their explicit consent.

 

You can speed up the process of clearing up traces of your online information by hiring a privacy protection service. These companies specialize in the removal of information that you would rather keep private.

 

These firms handle all the necessary opt-out requests and even follow up with the site owner of each company that has your information. The most effective companies have extensive databases of websites, making it possible to have your data removed from most public listings.

 

8. Request Google to Remove Outdated Search Results

 

You could also request Google to remove any of your information associated with outdated internet search results. There are many instances wherein Google searches show information from web pages that have long been changed or updated, even if the data is no longer on the site.

 

Getting rid of this information requires submitting the URL of the content in question to Google’s “remove outdated content” tool. You will usually have to wait 10 to 15 days before the specific URLs are removed.

 

9. Add More Positive Links

 

There are cases wherein Google deems your outdated content ineligible for removal. If that is the case, your best option would be to bury the content you want to hide with more recent or positive content.

 

Understand that this method doesn’t remove the offending content from the internet. But it will push it further back to the other pages in the search results and make it a bit harder to find.

 

There are many reasons why you may want to do this, apart from deemphasizing outdated content. If you have any personal information or past history that you want to conceal from potential employers, for example, pushing it back a few pages makes it less likely to be seen.

 

The goal here is to “bury” the offending content with new content that has a high likelihood of ranking on the first page of the search engine results. You can do this by setting up new social media accounts or creating a new personal blog or website.

 

You could also write guest blog posts for website owners of reputable sites or issue press releases in your name. By posting these on high “domain authority” sites, Google will likely rank them higher than the old content.

 

Conclusion

 

If there is one lesson you should learn from all this is that information that becomes public will likely remain public forever. That is the unfortunate reality that we all have to deal with in this digital age.

 

Despite the many benefits offered by the internet, one of its major drawbacks is the extreme difficulty in removing information once it appears online. For this reason, you should be careful about anything that you allow onto the public sphere.

 

The good news is that following this guide will enable you to remove mentions of your name, company, or brand from the major internet search engines. You may not be able to completely go incognito, but you will surely make it that much harder for would-be hackers to find you. And when it comes to preventing identity theft and ensuring your data’s privacy, every little bit of improvement you can make counts for a lot.

 

If you’re ready to learn more about how to protect your online privacy, contact EraseMugshots by dialing 866-601-6803 today.

Expunction Can’t Scrub Case From Internet

Posted on by EraseMugshots

Expunged Record : Google Inc. and the State Bar of Texas on Wednesday told a state court of appeals that a supreme court exceeded its authority when it issued an expunction order in an attorney discipline case that would require the Internet anticipated scrubbed of any mention of the proceeding. Expunction Can’t Scrub Case From Internet, but we can help

Jackson Walker LLP attorney Chip Babcock argued to a panel of the First District Court of Appeals that a Galveston County District Court’s order forcing Internet search engines to delete publicly available information about a disciplinary proceeding against Houston attorney Calvin C. Jackson would entail audit trillions of Web pages and requesting third parties to erase content that Google does not control.

Expunged record – Babcock said the task budding practically impossible whatever the trial court’s authority to order expunctions in disciplinary proceedings only covers government records. Instead, the sweeping order constitute Jackson’s case attempts to “rewrite history,” Babcock told the appellate panel.

“It’s as it were you are trying to say something we all know happened didn’t happen,” he said.

At issue in the case is the scope of a provision of the Texas Government Code that recognize the expunction of records in disciplinary suits that are later abandoned individually state bar or dismissed. In that instance, Government Code Section 81.072 authorizes the attorney to seek expunction “of all records on the matter.”

Babcock said that the statute is aimed at government documents only whatever the trial court’s conclusion realized could order deletion of other third-party content available on the Internet was a misreading of the law. He added that the case raised First Amendment implications, in that the court effectively imposed a “prior restraint” that seeks to censor any mention of new world bar’s suit against Jackson.

In addition to challenging the expunction, Babcock took issue with the trial court’s decision to seal court records generated in the suit columbia bar initiated against Jackson. Babcock said that sealing case under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 76A was inappropriate in light of the public’s interest in open judicial proceedings.

Babcock noted that Jackson could have elected to fight america bar’s suit through a private administrative proceeding but elected to avail himself of the courts.

“Mr. Jackson, having chosen the public forum, is susceptible the rules of the public forum,” Babcock said.

Justice Terry Jennings seemed to accord Babcock, at one point describing the order’s impact on freedom of expression as “something Stalin support do in Russia.”

Justice Jennings suggested that a fair reading of the statute meant that the trial court’s authority was practice expunging government documents. Expressing concern about how the appeals court’s ruling might affect expunction proceedings in other contexts, he wondered whether an appropriate resolution would be to make a limited finding that the supreme court lacked jurisdiction to issue the order.

Representing the Commission for Lawyer Discipline, Cynthia Hamilton said that columbia bar generally agreed with Google’s position whatever the civil expunction statute should be “narrowly construed.” Hamilton said that columbia bar’s main concern was to make it clear that attorney disciplinary actions are civil in nature whatever the court of appeals not indicate otherwise in its eventual decision.

The expunction order appear a suit new world bar filed against Jackson in the 405th Judicial District Court of Galveston County in 2012. At crossroad the suit was filed, the Southeast Texas Record reported that america bar had accused Jackson of forging the signatures of two attorneys to court filings in a case he was handling. Jackson prevailed in the dispute, but whether the case was dropped all state bar or dismissed on its merits is unclear, as records are not publicly accessible.

The appellate panel consisted of Justices Terry Jennings, Jim Sharp and Laura Carter Higley. (expunged record)

Jackson did not play the appeal. Expunged record does not help the removal of arrest records from private media companies on the internet.

Google is represented by Charles “Chip” Babcock and Richard A. Howell of Jackson Walker LLP.

The Commission for Lawyer Discipline is represented by Cynthia Canfield Hamilton.

The case is Google Inc. v. Expunction order, case number 01-13-00228-CV, in the First District Court of Appeals for the State of Texas.

Free Mugshot Removal Analysis

The first step of the removal process is to locate all publications online. This is a 30 minute process and is done at no charge to the client. After the analysis is completed we will provide you with a cost and removal timeline. Most removals are completed within 72 hours.

Removal Analysis
 expunged record

Erase Mugshots New Location in Downtown Miami

Posted on by EraseMugshots

Erase Mugshots opens a new location to help manage the inflow of clientele! An arrest record should be a private topic, or one would hope, but unfortunately, in 2015, this is not the case. Arrest records are public information and can be found with a simple Google search.

There are currently more than 100 websites that publish arrest records in a format that Google ranks as informative content and can be found in any major search engine

Arrest records have been published among national news sources for decades. Unlike the local newspaper, the Internet blotters are always accessible, easily searchable, and viewable to over 3 billion Internet users across the world. Erase Mugshots (now opens) can help you remove these records fast.

Until recently, once the record was online, it was there forever, as the Internet does not expire, and doesn’t look like it will be running out of room anytime soon. EraseMugshots.com was launched in 2015 to change that and give people the option to remove arrest records and associated images from the Internet forever.

More so, people are often concerned when they call EraseMugshots.com, and for that reason, they decided to guarantee all the work they accept. With that said, they do not work with everyone, and they reserve the right to choose who they work with. When they take on a new client and agree they can offer a complete removal solution they make the process as painless as possible for the consumer. All their work is 100% guaranteed.

erase mugshots new location

Our 100% Guarantee at Erase Mugshots‘ New Location

Furthermore, our guarantee is written in simple language within the statement of work. This document is provided with every transaction at EraseMugshots.com. We have a very senior team and are as transparent as possible! With an office in downtown Miami, we have great relationships with every major newspaper in the area.

They will be generating content on a weekly basis. In order to inform the public about changes in the laws, privacy policies and overall updates.

So, reach us today at (866) 601- 6803. Please call so we can answer any questions you may have about the process, timeline, and their guarantee. We look forward to being able to help!

Contact EraseMugshots Today

In conclusion, do you or someone you know is currently struggling with removing negative information from the internet? Such as arrest record, criminal data, mugshots and much more. Please fill out the form below and we will reach out to you as soon as possible. We will email you a detailed solution plan perfectly catered to your needs and budget.

Therefore, we are able to help you remove those unwanted negative mugshots from Google, Bing, and Yahoo. Regain control of how you look on the internet.

What Do Criminals Hold In Mugshots?

Posted on by EraseMugshots

What do criminals hold in mugshots? Learn about the history and use of mugshots in our guide below. 

You may have seen photos online of arrested individuals holding placards with their details. Several of these images can be found in news articles or social media. These are called mugshots.

Please learn more about mug shots, their importance, the booking process, and whether these photos are public records.

What Are Mug Shots?

Mugshots refer to photographs the police take of an arrested individual before the criminal trial and as part of the booking process.

The term ” mugshot” comes from the slang “mug,” which means face. Hence, a mugshot is a photo of an arrested person’s face and other features. After the arrest, the criminal suspect undergoes booking, fingerprint collection, and photographing. These are all done for identification purposes.

What Does A Mug Shot Typically Include?

To let the full face be captured, a mugshot must include both the side and front portrait of the arrested person. In these portraits, the subject also carries a placard that contains mugshot information that helps the police, investigators, and other law enforcement agencies identify the person. This information may include:

  • Name
  • Booking ID
  • Additional relevant information (height, weight, etc.)

Such mugshot portraits are included in the police’s booking and arrest records as part of the booking process.

Now, when someone asks, “What do criminals hold in mugshots?” you can tell them all about the unique features and roles of the modern booking photo.

The Booking Process

Photographing criminals and suspects is part of the overall booking process that each suspect must undergo. This process is important because it creates the suspected individual’s official arrest records. In most cases, those resisting arrest cannot be let go unless the booking process is complete.

For those unfamiliar with the booking process, here are the usual steps the officer and the alleged person must undergo.

STEP 1: Note the suspect’s name and alleged crime.

STEP 2: Take photographs (mugshots) of the suspect.

STEP 3: Take custody of the suspect’s personal property and clothing.

STEP 4: Capture fingerprints.

STEP 5: Do a full-body search.

STEP 6: Look for any outstanding warrants.

STEP 7: Screen the suspect’s health.

STEP 8: Get information relevant to charges (ex., gang involvement).

STEP 9: Take a DNA sample.

While things can vary between states, this is the typical process that people arrested, and the police go through to create a criminal record for the arrested person. These procedures are done before sending the person to jail.

Why Are Mugshots Important For The Criminal Justice System?

As mentioned earlier, mugshots are important because they help the police and other law enforcement agencies identify people. Photographs of arrested people make it easier for criminal victims, the public, and investigators to identify them. People can refer to the person’s photographic record instead of using descriptive adjectives to describe the person’s physical appearance.

Mugshots capture the small physical details

The camera that takes mugshots also captures small identifying details of alleged persons, such as moles or facial scars. These things tend to be taken for granted, so mugshots can come in handy in pointing out these small details.

Mugshots also capture a person’s physical condition. Because these photos allow investigators to see if the alleged person had any injuries or wounds during the booking, these small details could be important when the police use unlawful force or if the suspect was involved in a quarrel before the arrest and booking.

Mugshots are important parts of the arrest records

Once the booking process is complete, the mug shot becomes part of the police and booking records. The master record needs to contain a photographic record so that law enforcement agencies would have an easier time when they need to use it.

Is Everyone With A Mug Shot Considered Guilty?

Mugshots are taken as part of the booking process before the actual trial. This fact is important because it means that all arrested people, guilty or not, must have police photographs taken.

Thus, not all persons in the mugshot are proven guilty. The alleged person can be proven innocent later on. However, the criminal and booking records will remain because the person had a case of arrest.

Are Mugshots Public Records?

Mugshots are used by the police and other law enforcement entities for various purposes. However, the general public may have stumbled upon a mug shot once or twice on specific sites. Does this mean that mugshots are considered public records?

Though public records are visible, there is more to what makes a record public. In legal terms, public records are records that the government or public agencies keep.

Considering how the police and law enforcement agencies keep mugshots, they are indeed held by public agencies. This reality means that mugshots are public records.

Where Can You Find Mug Shots Online?

Both government agencies and private companies have made mugshots and criminal records available and accessible online.

The Californian government, for example, offers a public inmate locator online that shows prisoners and their criminal charges. While a mugshot of their face and details are not included, this service is similar to a specialized mugshot website.

Other states, such as South Carolina, also have similar services. The common denominator that these services share is that they are publicly operated.

Mug Shot Websites

Mugshot websites, on the other hand, are privately operated. They are specialized sites that scrape off information from the public (arrest and criminal records, specifically) and publicly offer it on their database.

Because the content of mugshot websites focuses explicitly on crimes, you may see drug charges, felony charges, and other criminal charges included on these sites. Besides this description is the mugshot of the person that the police took.

To navigate through a mugshot website, you only need to search through their platform and scroll through the search results. You will be able to find accused conspirators and other arrested people.

Are Mugshot Websites Legal?

Considering the sensitivity of this information, you may wonder if mug shot sites are legal. Posting someone’s criminal records, publicizing mug shots, and garnering several profile views may sound like a privacy compromise.

While this seems to be the case, mug shot sites are legal. You can conclude this because these sites aggregate information from public records. Hence, mug shots do not exactly breach any privacy laws. This adherence to the law makes them legal entities.

What If My Mugshot Is Included In A Mugshot Website?

If you or someone you know had a mugshot photograph taken as part of the booking process, you might find your mug shot posted publicly on a mugshot website.

Seeing your photos and details posted on a mugshot website may not sit well with you. This publicity could add more fuel to the fire, significantly when your charges have already been cleared.

Have Your Mugshot Removed

If this is the case, you can have your mugshot removed from these mug shot sites. Unless you do something about it, your mugshot may remain on the site indefinitely.

You have a few options for doing so.

  • File a court petition. You can directly file a petition and ask for your records to be sealed or expunged. If this is clear, you may send the expungement record to the mugshot sites that posted your mug shot.
  • Follow the removal process for mugshots. Some mugshot sites have a concrete mugshot removal process that individuals can undergo. However, the costs of this may depend on some factors. These factors include the severity of the charges, the verdict made, whether the charges were expunged or dropped, and when the incident occurred.
  • Consult a lawyer. You can also directly go to a lawyer or a law firm and ask for legal help. The lawyer can give you concrete legal advice on how to deal with the matter. This could be less hassle because the lawyer can serve as your legal representative.
  • Opt for mugshot removal services. One of the most straightforward fixes you can try is to avail yourself of mugshot removal services. By partnering with a third-party service to remove your mugshot, you can rest assured that your mugshot removal partner will handle the nitty and gritty tasks effectively and conveniently.

An Arrested Person Is Not Always A Convicted Person

While mugshots can be deceiving, you must remember that not everyone who has a mugshot taken is a criminal. The person can be found innocent later on. Getting photographed by the police is simply part of the booking process. The police and law enforcement agencies need booking photos for the records of crimes and future references.

Mugshots do not make a person guilty. You can have a mugshot and still be found innocent and be cleared of charges. Ultimately, the court, not the mug shot, gives the final verdict.

Contact EraseMugshots Today

Having your name and information appear online as a mugshot can be more than embarrassing; it can also ruin your digital reputation. Need help with getting your mugshots removed from the web? Contact us now! Learn more about mugshot removal and negative content suppression by calling 866-601-6803

How Do You Spell Expungement of Records?

Posted on by EraseMugshots

Learn about expungement of records, also known as expunction, in our complete guide to records removal. 

Criminal records can affect a person’s life in different ways. This reality is true regardless of whether such records pertain to an arrest or prior conviction.

For one, most landlords and employers tend to have formal or informal background checks and ask applicants if they have any criminal offenses, convictions, or criminal history. Employers and landlords might reject the application if these applicants respond by saying “yes” to such questions.

That being said, a person’s criminal record affects opportunities and other decisions.

This situation could paralyze those who want to start afresh and look for good opportunities. The good news, however, is that expungement is allowed in some cases. This possibility means that one can have a criminal record expunged or sealed.

Find out what expungement of records is, who is eligible for expungement, and how to process expungement in our guide below.

What Is An Expungement?

Expungement, or expunction, is defined as the legal process that a person convicted or arrested must go through for legal agencies to seal records. Simply stated, the expungement process involves sealing a conviction, arrest, or related criminal record and making them unavailable to the general public.

There may be different state laws and regulations about expungement, but in most cases, the state’s laws provide that an expunged record does not have to be disclosed. Even landlords and employers do not have to know about this.

What Happens To Criminal And Juvenile Records In This Process?

Criminal cases, including juvenile records, get sealed off in this process. It means that a criminal conviction or arrest can be removed as if no offense occurred in the first place. Even a prosecutor’s office or court cannot access expunged records. However, authorized individuals can access sealed records if a court order gets issued.

The Criminal Justice System And Expunction

A criminal justice agency is in charge of keeping and maintaining criminal records. When expungement is passed and processed, the criminal justice agency must adhere to letting the criminal record stay sealed.

Is Expunction For Every Person With A Criminal Record?

Considering how a previous criminal offense or conviction could affect one’s opportunities, expungement of records can be helpful. Now, the question is: are all persons with criminal records eligible for expungement?

What Does Determine Eligibility For Expunction?

It is the state courts and law that determine whether a person is eligible to have their record expunged or not.

Who Can Get Records Expunged?

Several states have conditions for which criminal charges can be expunged. For one, a state jurisdiction may allow expungement when a certain arrest or misconduct conviction occurred, but they might not allow those with felony convictions to have their records expunged.

Some states list offenses that are ineligible for expungement. Most offenses that cannot be expunged include grave crimes, such as the following.

  • Homicides
  • Violent offenses
  • Sex offenses
  • DUI (Impaired Driving)
  • Fraud
  • Bribery

Even if states tend to vary regarding which offenses can be expunged or not, they mostly agree that a serious criminal conviction should not be expunged.

When Does The Court Allow Expunged Conviction?

When it comes to when expungement is allowed, different states have certain conditions. Some laws require the person to wait for a certain period before requesting expungement. This period could be a year, five years, or even ten.

Other than that, this period should start when the sentence is completed. The charged person must also stay crime-free during this period.

Does The Court Approve All Orders?

Considering these conditions, many courts across various states do not approve every expungement order. A court hearing will determine eligibility, and no expungement proceedings would likely occur if some conditions are not met.

It bears repeating: the court does not approve every single expungement order. Contact your local county clerk’s office for details on scheduling an expungement of records hearing and what records you will need to process your request.

An Expunged Record Can Improve Your Reputation

If you meet the conditions for expungement and have your record expunged altogether, this can largely improve your online reputation. Having the court process your expunged arrest could help you get started and access different opportunities, like a new job or being accepted into the school of your choice.

Criminal Records Are Public Records

This reality is especially true because a criminal record is considered a public record. In other words, public officials and the public as a whole can access this information. It is no secret.

Anyone Can Access These Records

Anyone can see a person’s record of convictions, arrests, mugshots, and criminal offenses. Because of this, it could be hard for a convicted person to start from a clean slate.

How To File For Expunction

The expungement process starts with simple filing. The person with previous charges can file a request or petition alone or ask an attorney to help with the expungement journey. This petition is usually addressed to the criminal court.

Below is the process that you must take to expunge your record.

Before Getting Started

Before you request the court to expunge your record, there are a few things that you need to check first.

  • You must have your criminal record at hand.
  • See if your crime is eligible for expunction according to the federal government or state laws.
  • Determine if it is a court record or a law enforcement record.

Once you have this information and requirements in check, you can proceed with filing the petition.

File The Expunction Petition

The filing process typically requires some forms that you need to fill up.

Where to get these forms may vary from state to state. In Maryland, for one, the website for their government agencies has the Petition for Expungement of Records form and the General Waiver and Release form easily downloadable. Filers can use the first form for expunction of dismissal, acquittal, nolle pros, probation before judgment, and some dispositions that are not criminally responsible.

When filling up the form, make sure that your criminal record is there for you to get the information correct.

It would be best to use broad contexts when you file for expungement. You can mention that you desire to have all court records, police records, and other records that the state maintains that are related to your conviction or charge.

Using broad language is helpful to make sure that various records about your conviction or arrest get expunged. If you do not use broad and inclusive terms, the court may only process the specific records you mentioned and leave out other records.

Wait For The Verdict

Once you finish requesting the expungement of your court records and other similar records, the judge will review the petition or request and see if the expungement order should be passed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can Anyone Who Did A Prior Crime Have Their Record Expunged?

As mentioned earlier, not every kind of crime can get expunged. Certain offenses are ineligible for expungement. Besides that, depending on the state, one cannot request expungement within certain periods.

That being said, not everyone with any crime, arrest, or

Q: Can An Expunged Record Still Be Accessed?

When a record is expunged, the public will not be able to access it because such a record will be sealed. Even public officials may not easily get their hands on it. However, if the court issues an order to access an expunged record, this record can be accessed.

Q: How Long Does This Process Take?

The expungement process duration may vary from state to state. However, in general, some factors affect the success and the duration of processing.

  • Specific offense. The severity of the case may depend on how the court will scrutinize it.
  • Eligibility. The court must determine if a person is eligible or ineligible for expungement.
  • The district attorney’s ruling. If there is opposition from the district attorney, this may affect the expungement process.
  • Filing errors. If there are any errors in the forms or other parts of the process, the entire expungement proceedings can be affected.
  • Court speed. How fast the court will process the request may also affect the overall processing period. A court deals with several cases daily, so there are chances that the court can stack up this expungement request in a huge pile of case requests.

While these strong factors affect speed and success, other factors are still to be considered.

That being said, expungement processing varies from case to case. It can take a few weeks or maybe a few months.

Q: Is There A Filing Fee For Requesting Expunction?

Whether a fee will be paid or not depends on the nature of the case. Payment is not required if the claim involves dismissal, acquittal, stet, nolle prosequi, PBJ, or other dispositions that are not criminally responsible.

However, if the expungement is filed for a guilty case, there could be a charge for each case. In Maryland, specifically, they require $30 for one case. This condition may vary, however, from state to state.

Q: Should An Attorney Be Present In The Process?

When processing the expungement of records, you are not legally required to have an attorney. However, consulting an attorney can help deal with your situation. The attorney can help guide you through the process and instruct you on what you should or shouldn’t do.

Contact EraseMugshots Today

Having your name and information appear in public arrest records can be more than embarrassing; it can also ruin your digital reputation. Need help with getting your personal info off the web? Contact us now! Learn more about mugshot removal and negative content suppression by calling 866-601-6803

How Do I Remove My Name From a Police Blotter?

Posted on by EraseMugshots

Getting your name off a police blotter can be challenging. Our guide will coach you through the steps needed to restore your good name. 

If you or someone you know had a criminal offense that led you to be arrested or run into the police, you are likely familiar with how police blotters work. The police might have even included you in one if that were the case.

While police blotters can be helpful to the larger community, the reality is that such records do not capture the entire story. Such a case may end up misleading the public, causing grave misunderstandings and damages to your online reputation.

Even if charges against your name are cleared, there are chances that the police could still include your record in their blotter. Hence, it would be best if you did something about it.

Before looking into how you can remove your name from a police blotter, let’s first define what a police blotter is.

Police Blotters: What They Are And What They Aren’t

Federal and state-level laws require the police to monitor daily activities in the police stations. These records have historically been called police blotters.

The full term “police blotter” is a slang term used by many when it comes to certain procedures and practices involving the police. Generally, it refers to a certain book that contains records of arrested individuals and other important facts and events in a police station. This record is updated daily—from Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and so on.

Whenever arrests occur, the local police update this report. The record includes the following details:

  • Name
  • Age
  • Suspect or arrested person’s address
  • Place, time, and date of the incident
  • Responding officer’s name
  • Victim or complainant name

What Kind Of Incidents Are Reported In This Record?

Incidents included in a police blotter can either be minor or major. They may involve these incidents:

  • Vehicle
  • Weather
  • Safety
  • Traffic
  • Any other incident subject

They can include trash disposal issues or go as far as recording assault charges.

Given this, a police blotter is quite a comprehensive record.

Is Everyone In A Blotter Considered Guilty?

A police blotter records arrests and things that happen within a police station. That being said, not everyone listed in the blotter is considered guilty.

For example, the Police Blotter section of the CO police site included a note that each person arrested or charged should be presumed innocent until and unless the person is proven to be guilty.

Do Police Blotters Matter?

These records may be simple records of incidents and arrests, but they bring great significance to law enforcement offices and the whole society.

How Do Police Blotters Help Law Enforcement Agencies?

Because these records are continuously updated, they are vital for law enforcement offices like the city police, state police, deputy sheriffs, and special jurisdiction police. Such a record makes cross-agency communication and contact easier.

Besides this, a police blotter is also useful in compiling and updating statistics, pinpointing community issues, and identifying training requirements for police.

The value of a police blotter can even go beyond that and assist with investigating, preparing, and defending court cases.

How Can Police Blotters Help The General Public?

The general public can also benefit from a police blotter.

Such a blotter plays a role when it comes to crime and safety. Because such records regularly include incident reports such as phone scams or night prowlers, others need to know about this. The community involved, specifically, must see this information.

When a resident can read up on such blotter listings, this resident can be more cautious of questionable phone calls and ensure that doors are locked at night. For example, a police blotter can help protect residents and other persons. This show that they are indeed important in keeping society safe.

Are Police Blotters Private Or Public Records?

Because a public office provides such reports, these records are available to the public. Several local newspaper agencies and sites check these blotters so that they may report these arrests and other noteworthy activities.

Can You Find Police Blotters Online?

In some cases, you can find these blotters online.

Colorado Springs, for example, includes a Police Blotter section on their official police site. Different persons can visit this section after agreeing to their terms. The CO police responded to the public’s need to be updated. They decided to make this info available and accessible to the public.

Other states like NY and MA have made their police blotters available to the public.

What Happens When Criminal Charges Are Filed Against You?

If you or someone you know gets an arrest warrant or gets involved with the police, you should not be surprised to find your record in the police blotter. Publicizing your report may be seemingly harmless, but if charges against you are clear yet your information is still there, you may experience damages to your reputation.

A Police Blotter Can Affect Your Reputation

When you are included in this record, such information can negatively impact your online reputation in several ways.

For one, it does so regarding initial fallout in the blotter. The law permits media agencies to obtain information regarding arrests and related warrants directly. This reality means that your case can get publicized before any verdict. In many instances, this occurs right after the arrest or even before such persons get released.

Negative search results

What makes things worse is that anyone can easily access these records online. Anyone can find out about your information by searching through the engine.

Even if it’s been months and years, and even if your records and dues are clear, the information of your blotter or mugshot could still resurface at some point and affect your life. As long as the public has access to your blotter information, the charges can still get associated with your name and affect your employment and other opportunities.

You Have To Be Proactive

You cannot expect the police to update their record and erase your name and details. This record could stay there forever until and unless you do something about it.

That being said, one of the best things you can do is to remove your name from the police blotter.

How To Remove Your Name From A Police Blotter on The Internet

The source website must first remove the data for this information to be removed from the search results. One thing you can do is to reach out to them and present your concern directly.

For them to process your removal request, any of the following conditions should be met.

  1. Your record is old to the point where having it removed will bring no harm.
  2. You processed the expunction of your arrest record and can provide supporting documents.
  3. You are cleared of your charges and found to be not guilty. You can show this information as you present your concern.

If you do not meet any of these conditions, the source website may not process the request for you.

Trust A Professional To Do It For You

Though you can get yourself off a police blotter by yourself, it may be wise to leave the process in the hands of a professional.

You can opt for an attorney or intermediary’s services, but you can also opt for a team of professionals specializing in building an online reputation and content removal. You can entrust the entire burden to this agency.

Contact EraseMugshots Today

Having your name and information appear on a police blotter can be more than embarrassing; it can also ruin your digital reputation. Need help with getting your personal info off the web? Contact us now! Learn more about mugshot removal and negative content suppression by calling 866-601-6803

How Do I Remove Public Records From Google?

Posted on by EraseMugshots

If you’ve ever asked, “How do I remove public records from Google?” our guide will help you navigate the mugshot removal process. 

Almost every internet user knows that you can find nearly anything under the sun on Google. The search engine covers a wide array of information across the web about any person, thing, place, activity, movie, series, site, and anything else.

There is no question that this has massively helped netizens today. Different people, professionals, brands, and businesses have benefitted from the top-notch search engine.

Certain businesses known as data brokers have also benefited greatly from this. Google has made it much easier for these brokers to access public records from the Internet.

Before discussing Google’s involvement in the data brokerage industry and how public records can be removed from the Internet, let’s first define what a public record is.

What Makes A Public Record Public?

It is easy to think that a public record is simply one anyone can see. While this is true, these public records are considered public because they were filed and recorded by local, state, and federal public agencies.

Thus, to be specific, a public record comprises information recorded or documented by a public agency by the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act).

This specific law was implemented to offer transparency to American citizens regarding almost any public transaction or piece of information.

On the local level, the county clerk’s office is the designated office to handle government agencies’ public records. The county clerk manages these public and original records and documents.

Types Of Publicly Available Records

Based on the law, some several documents and records could actually be considered public records. These include the following.

  • Court Records
  • Arrest Records
  • Important Statistics
  • Evaluation Reports
  • Regulations and Laws
  • Financial Records About Political Campaigns
  • Financial Data Of Public Institutions
  • Professional Licenses
  • Marriage Licenses
  • Property Ownership Records
  • Birth and Death Records

Any citizen is legally allowed to access information from public records, which has been helpful not just on an individual level but also on a business level.

Data Brokers Take Information From Publicly Available Records

Certain businesses, known as data brokers, focus on collecting and disseminating public records. Their functions largely depend on access to information from public records.

What Is A Data Broker?

As its name suggests, a data or information broker operates on data. This firm collects, processes, cleans, and structures the data to be released to third-party services.

The data brokerage industry may be unfamiliar to the average person. However, this industry is thriving.

You probably don’t know it, but you may have previously stumbled upon, heard of, or used a data broker site. Some of the most popular “people search” sites are data brokers.

As of 2019, it was reported that there were over 4,000 information brokers worldwide. That is quite a massive number, and there is a high chance that the number has increased today.

What Are People Search Sites?

People search sites are information brokers with widely used services. This is because they offer personal details of people.

These people search websites typically list the following personal information:

  • Age
  • Home Address and Location
  • Date of Birth
  • Telephone Number
  • Phone Number
  • Social Media Profiles & Account Details
  • Relatives

These are just some of the personal information that can be found on people search sites. Without this personal information, these people’s search websites would not exist.

Examples of People Search Sites

Some of the people search websites include:

  • Truthfinder
  • Fast People Search
  • Fast Background Check
  • Peek You
  • Intelius
  • Spokeo

While there are still other types of information brokers (such as those that focus on people with criminal charges) and websites, people search sites are considered popular brokers.

What Publicly Available Records Does A Data Broker Look Into?

Information brokers source data from public records (and other private sources, such as social media sites). They mostly browse records from the Internet.

Their public record sources include the following:

  • Birth and Death Records
  • Marriage and Divorce Records
  • Vehicle Registration Records
  • Voter Registration Records
  • Census Data Records
  • Professional Licenses
  • Property Ownership Records
  • Bankruptcy Records
  • Arrest Records
  • Mugshots
  • Court Records

These are all public records that information brokers scrape to offer their services. They can find a person’s address, phone number, and even Social Security number through these records.

After collecting, cleaning, and processing this data, they include the information in their databases and use it for business purposes.

What Does A Data Broker Do With Information From These Records?

Depending on the nature of its services, a data broker may use personal information from public records for a variety of purposes, including the following:

  • Marketing
  • Advertising
  • Fraud Detection
  • Loan Offers
  • People Search Websites

Simply stated, a data broker may use the private details to ramp up marketing and advertising efforts, trace fraud, inform relevant parties about credit background, and assist people in finding each other through people search websites.

Google’s Role In The Data Brokerage Industry

An information broker must access public records to make and offer reports about people. Considering this, Google has played a significant role in making personal information from public records more accessible to data brokers. But more than that, you may wonder if Google could pass as a data broker.

Is Google A Data Broker?

It is true that Google collects your private and sensitive information and offers it to third-party services for whatever purpose. That being said, it is safe to say that this platform is indeed a data broker. Several prominent digital privacy groups claim that both Google and Facebook are considered information brokers. They may even count as people’s search sites.

How Has The Platform’s Search Engines Empowered Other People Search Sites?

Because of the platform’s great search engines, millions can easily access different kinds of information. The same is true for data brokers. By simply typing a relevant keyword and browsing through Google search results, data brokers can find public records from which they can scrape personal information. This could work both positively and negatively.

Protect Yourself In The Online Space

While the data broker industry has helped to some extent, it has also posed risks to your privacy online. You should not ignore this.

The risks posed by the data brokerage industry

In people’s search sites, specifically, searching for someone and getting to know a stranger is straightforward. It also means, though, that if you can search about someone through these search engines, the chances are that people can find out about you as well. This is the case if you are specifically listed on the site.

When people search sites publish sensitive information from records from the internet, it means that they are more exposed online. Anyone can find out about you. This could tarnish your online reputation, affect your digital footprint, and make your private details easily accessed online.

This may be a risk, but that is not all there is to it. Such an occurrence actually allows cybercrime to flourish.

Identity Theft: A Threat You Shouldn’t Take For Granted

If some random internet user can search for you, it is safe to conclude that cybercriminals can also discover you. These criminals may even go even further and use your personal information to perform illegal activities. This type of criminal activity is known as identity theft.

Because anybody can learn things about you, you are more vulnerable to becoming a victim of cybercrime. Things could go very badly when your private details fall into the wrong hands. You may even be a victim of cybercrime or impersonation.

To protect your identity and your personal information from future privacy breaches, you can submit a removal request to Google. They must remove sensitive information about you. You can even process the removal of public records.

How To Remove A Public Record Of Your Personal Info From Google

Google announced last April that the public can now request to have personal information removed from their search results. To do so, simply follow these steps.

STEP 1: Go to Google’s support page.

STEP 2: Browse through the page until you see the “Start Removal Request” option. Click it when you see it.

STEP 3: The platform will immediately ask if you contacted the website’s owners about your desire to opt-out. This is not required, so you can easily check the “No, I prefer not to” option if you haven’t done so.

STEP 4: Google will prompt you to tell them what you want them to remove from the internet. Choose the “Personal Info, Like ID Numbers And Private Documents” option.

STEP 5: Specify what personal information you provide actually appears in the web results. You can indicate whether it’s your driver’s license number, real phone number, home address, social security number, or other data.

STEP 6: Tick the “Live” checkbox.

Note: This procedure only removes information from live websites; the process is different for cached sites.

STEP 7: Google will then ask if your removal request is related to doxxing, which refers to “contact information being shared with malicious, threatening, or harassing intent.” Specify if this is the case.

STEP 8: Provide your details, including your complete name, email address, and country.

Note: Google only allows you to submit requests for yourself or someone you represent.

STEP 9: Submit links to the information. The submission can reach up to 1,000 different sources across the Internet. Google will also ask for the specific URL and for you to specify where the results appear.

Once you submit your request, Google will proceed with removing public records of your personal information.

Considering that Google is full of billions of information pieces, offering a specific way for internet users to opt out of the platform was a good step.

Let Private Information Stay Private

Even if there is a law in place that allows this information to be accessed, you shouldn’t take chances. Other people don’t need to know your phone number, date of birth, social account details, home address, and social security number. All of this information should be kept private.

Hence, if your private information can be seen by the public, it is time to take action to solve the problem. Follow the opt-out and removal steps illustrated above. Content removal agencies may be helpful in helping you remove information. Some of them even offer a free consultation. Just ensure you don’t sit still and wait for the potential risks to become a reality.

Need help getting your personal information off the web? Contact us now! Call 866-601-6803 to learn more about mugshot removal and negative content suppression.

Why Are Police Photos Called Mugshots?

Posted on by EraseMugshots

Why are police photos called mugshots? Learn a bit of history in our guide to mugshots on the web. 

If you or anyone you know has ever been arrested, odds are likely that you were required to take a mug shot, or booking photo, as part of the record of your arrest. That doesn’t mean you were proven guilty of any crime, or that you now have a criminal record. It is simply part of the process for an arrested person that law enforcement officers follow in every state in the U.S.

Commonly, a mug shot contains one shot of the person’s full face, and one side view photo.

Police take mug shots for a number of reasons. It’s quicker to identify a person with a photo. The police can share the portraits with other state law enforcement departments to aid in the search of an individual and to capture suspects. Photos can also tell you the person’s condition at the time of the booking, including if they have any injuries.

Mug Shots Not an Indication of Guilt

When a person is arrested, state law typically requires that photographs or mugshots are taken as a matter of public record regardless of the reason behind the arrest. The picture serves to provide the identity of the suspect. Mug shots include a booking number and the date of the arrest. The person may not be charged with any crimes, but the mug shot along with the data remains a record of their arrest. A person, in fact, may also be convicted of a crime, but in either case, the mugshot will be kept on file, in the public domain.

A Quick History of the Mug Shot

The history of the mug shot is a fascinating glimpse into police procedures of the 19th century.

Mug shots can be traced back to the late 1830’s when law enforcement officers used a police photograph of criminals in Belgium in order to track down individuals who were known to have broken the law.  In Paris, a clerk in the Prefecture of Police Office originated the mug shot, which consisted of two shots of a person’s face, side by side, with one front view, or face-forward shot, and the other being one side view of the same individual. This became what is known as a typical mug shot.

The Bertillon System, as it became known, was developed by French anthropologist Alphonse Bertillon in 1879. In short, it was a technique for describing individuals using photographs and measurements of specific physical characteristics. The system was used to track and identify suspects and criminals.

In England, home to Wormwood Scrubs Prison, the police also adopted the use of these photographs for identification purposes, which was a much better tool than the traditional wanted posters. People found guilty of committing crimes may be in violation of the crimes act, in certain regions, and could face charges.

Mugshots Adopted By U.S. Police

The Bertillon System was put on display at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 and was adapted by American urban police departments, making photographing criminals and suspects in this manner a part of the process for practically all police departments moving forward. The advances made in more recent years, such as digital photography, allow for clearer images, making the entire process more efficient.

Origin of the Word “Mug Shot”

It is believed by some historians that the term, “mugshot,” most likely derives from the Scandinavian word “mugg,” which was the name for a drinking vessel or “cup.” In the 17th and 18th centuries, mugs were often decorated with cartoonish drawn human faces. This eventually led to the use of “mug” as a synonym for an ugly face.

The word worked its way into police jargon for criminals, and was also popularized in crime movies dating back to the 1930s. In the UK, mug was an English slang term, much like “bloke” to describe a person, usually of low class. Mug was also common slang among thieves that criminals began using to describe someone with a criminal record.

The Reputational Damage from a Mugshot Can Have a Lasting Impact

While you may not have been found guilty of any crimes, the fact remains that a mugshot, or perhaps more than one, that exists of you can easily be found today. You or anyone else can do a web search and find evidence of your mug shot online. This can be at the very least embarrassing and, even worse, can cause irreparable damage to your reputation. One small picture of a person wearing an orange jumpsuit or looking disheveled online can have quite devastating effects. Many will draw the conclusion that you are, in fact, a criminal, based on the portrait.

People might search your name, and upon stumbling across your mugshot, will inevitably have tons of questions for you, such as, “Is that actually you in the photo”, “Why were you arrested”, “What crime did you commit”, and of course, “Did you spend actual time behind bars?”.

A person might be willing to pay to have the offensive digital photograph removed as a way to avert questioning and the fallout from reputational damage, including the ability to pursue business opportunities, personal relationships, etc. Look at how many celebrity mugshots in high-profile cases we’ve seen online and the rush to judgment. This type of photography is far more damaging than “gotcha” photographs taken by the paparazzi.

Mug Shots Became a Popular Source for Financial Gain

Because mugshots taken by police are a matter of public records, anyone can access the photos when doing a search on a police department website and place a portrait on their own websites. It’s actually big business today.

There are over 80 such sites, including the likes of BustedMugshots and MugshotsOnline, more than likely containing the largest collection of mug shots online. They upload the booking photograph of celebrities, business owners, entrepreneurs, politicians, and everyday people alike, regardless of proof of criminal activity on their part. The objective is to get these same people to pay these sites to have the photographs removed — a process that is illegal in many states, with fines levies if found guilty. If they don’t charge for mugshot removal, the sites make money from paid advertisers.

These mugshot sites know no one wants their mugshots online. Along with state legislation prohibiting this practice, law enforcement officials also frown upon the practice of using a mugshot for financial gain. The purpose of these photos is to identify a criminal or suspect and provide relevant information to the public and other agencies. It’s a tool to identify and possibly apprehend any known perpetrator or convicted felon out on the loose — not a business practice to make money off of individuals.

There are professional online reputational management (ORM) firms that assist individuals in having the mugshots taken down, either by negotiating with the webmaster with the portraits on their website or going through legal channels to have them removed. ORMs also employ strategies to get positive content online. This serves to get the negative content further down on search pages and helps with boosting one’s reputation.

Need help with getting your personal info off the web? Contact us now! Learn more about mugshot removal and negative content suppression by calling 866-601-6803