How to Remove Your Personal Data Posted Online
In the chapter on identity theft, we discussed the reasons for identity theft and provided instructions on how to check your personal data for leaks. In this chapter, we will talk about how to remove your data from public access. If your personal data has leaked online and is posted on one or more websites, the following measures may be effective:
Contacting the Website Owner
The simplest and often most effective method if your personal data has leaked and is posted on one or more websites. Politely, without threats, ask the website owner to help you. If a polite request does not help, warn that you will be forced to go to court and to the regulatory authority with the sole purpose of protecting your personal data.
Sample of the first request:
Good day! My personal data is posted on your website at the link (provide the link). Please help me with its removal. Thank you in advance.
Sample of the second request:
Good day! I recently contacted you regarding the removal of my personal data posted at the link (provide the link). Unfortunately, I have not received a response and my data is still publicly accessible. Please help me with its removal; if you do not assist me, I will be forced to go to court, file a complaint with the regulatory authority, and seek help from the domain name registrar and the hosting provider that hosted the website. I hope for your assistance.
If this is an English-language website, here is the translation of the texts:
Hello. Your website (link to the page with personal data) has my personal data exposed. I kindly ask you to help me remove it. Thank you in advance.
Hello. I have recently asked you for your help in removing my personal data made public at this link (link). Unfortunately, I haven’t received a reply from you and my data is still publicly accessible. I kindly ask you to help me remove it; otherwise, I will have to file a complaint to the authorized body and request the help of the domain name registrar and hosting provider of the website. I sincerely hope for your aid and assistance.