Current legislation requires specific types of records to be made available to the public for viewing at their discretion. While the history of having public records accessible is nothing new, this day and age in which everything under the sun is available on the internet is relatively new. In the old days, those who wanted to obtain personal information had to submit a formal written request to a government agency or physically walk into an office. The amount of effort required to obtain such information deterred many from taking the time to do so in the past. Having all of this personal information available online and readily accessible has quickly increased the risk of privacy invasions and security issues.
Data contained within public records can greatly increase your risk of being subject to identity theft for one example. While immediately sensitive data such as your social security number, credit card number, or bank account information can be taken down right away, information such as date of birth, current address, maiden name, and other basic security questions are available to the public to see. Predatory businesses like debt collectors or debt consolidation businesses constantly scroll through this information online to target individuals with bankruptcy filings. Having your home address and phone number accessible to the public may also make you a target for stalking.
Marketers can also use your information to generate a basic profile to generate marketing material based upon the “profile” you fit into.
What are public records?
Each state’s requirements on what is considered public may vary, but records can include:
- Birth, marriage, and death certificates
- Divorce records
- Property ownership and taxes
- Driver’s license details
- Voter registration
- Court files and arrest records
- SEC (Securities Exchange Commission) filings
- Occupational licenses
These public records can be found through various platforms. Most commonly sites containing information that rank the highest are people search sites including Spokeo, Intelius, WhitePages, and Peoplefinder. Other locations that rank high in search results include the DMV, county clerk, and social media sites. Some may include websites such as charities you volunteer for or organizations you partner with.
Ways to Remove Public Records from Online
In certain states, the government may be able to keep all of your personal details private or “sealed” if you are considered: a victim of domestic violence or stalking, hold a juvenile arrest record for a minor crime, or if your personal information has the potential of putting the public at risk. If your personal situation does not fit those criteria, there are still steps you can take to help remove or protect your personal information that is shared online. While it may be challenging to remove your personal information 100% from online sources, below are some steps to help protect your information.
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Google yourself.
The first step is to understand what information is out there about yourself. Try a few different searches including your name, state, and city in which you currently reside or include your employer. Understand what types of sites are being reflected in the results.
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Update your address and phone number.
Signing up for a post office box can help hide your home address from appearing online. While some institutions such as a bank or DMV may still require a home address for certain items, you can use a P.O. box for most records. Consider adding a separate phone line as well for public or business purposes. You can do this for fairly cheap through services like WhatsApp, Sideline, Skype, or Google Voice.
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Work with your local county clerk
Check your state’s requirements on any forms of id needed or online paperwork before scheduling an appointment. Ask what information can be modified or removed entirely from any records held. Records held with the county clerk may include birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce records, death certificates, deeds and mortgages, and court records.
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Check with the DMV
If your state allows it, you may be able to update your address on your driver’s license and any motor vehicle records to a P.O. box.
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Identify if there are any other public records out there
Think of any other public institutions you may have a relationship with. Places like the public library or public pool may have your personal information in their system for membership. If you work with a local charity or volunteer with an organization, they can usually take down your information with a simple request.
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Request for your information to be removed from people search sites
There are many people search sites (also known as information brokers) that rank high in search results. Some of them include:
- Spokeo
- Intelius
- WhitePages
- Peoplefinders
- Radaris
While some of the sites do offer opt-out request forms, not all of them readily provide contact information to request your information to be taken down. You may need to consult an online reputation management firm to assist in working with these companies.
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Check your privacy settings on all your online accounts
Most online profiles ask for basic personal details such as your address, phone number, or email address. Review their policies to make sure that information is not shared with anyone or publicly displayed. If your personal details show up in a post on social media (not in your about section), that may be considered a Terms of Service violation and the site should be able to remove the post with a quick request.
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If information can’t be removed, consider suppression
In the event your information can’t be taken down or modified to reduce what is displayed, consider contacting a professional for assistance in suppressing the information. They can help push the sites containing your personal information further down in search results so that it isn’t the first thing that pops up when someone searches for you.
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Reputation Resolutions is one of the few Reputation Management firms that have an “A” rating with the Better Business Bureau. In addition, Reputation Resolutions has been selected as one of the top 5 providers of online reputation management services in the industry by both greatagencies.com and topseos.com. To see reviews from past clients who have used our services, click here.
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If you are looking to remove a public record from Google’s search results, please fill out the form below or call us today on 855-239-5322 to speak to one of our specialists.