Oh dear

February 18, 2009 8:18 PM

Many moons ago, when I was naive and young, I left an embarrassing trail of incriminating Usenet posts. I had Google remove them from their archive but, forward a few years, they're back! How can I get them deleted for good?

The original posts remain deleted but the messages have begun to appear as 'snippets' in Google Group's search results. I'm not sure how long these snippets have been appearing but, as far as I can tell from other forums, other users have reported the problem as occuring as far back as early last year.

Google itself seems to be silent on the matter. There was mention last year that they were working on it but there is no word of when it will be sorted. Understandably, I don't want these posts on the radar for too long. I'd like them gone right now.

People have posted complaints to Google's own help forums, but Google has made little response. I'd like to contact Google personally (preferably by email, as this would be the best as far as privacy would be concerned). I've tried searching for a contact email address for them (specifically, Google Groups) but have had no luck.

Does anyone know the best way to get a fast response from the Big G? Is there an email address I can write to? Does anyone know the score with this problem?

Potential employers will be hitting the search button soon!

posted by anonymous to computers & internet (15 comments total)

We've had similar questions on here in the past, and as far as I know Google isn't going to help you in this regard.

Your best bet is to just put your best foot forward with any potential employers.
posted by dunkadunc at 8:23 PM on February 18

If it's worth spending money on, I think perhaps the thing that's most likely to get a useful response is to have a lawyer inquire with Google's legal department about when this problem will be cleared up.
posted by winston at 8:30 PM on February 18

I think you are worrying too much about this. I would guesstimate that 99% of internet users have never even heard of Usenet. It's 2009, not 1995. Unless you are applying for a very techy job, I can't imagine any employer even thinking of searching Google Groups for dirt on you. Facebook, MySpace, Google itself, but not Google Groups. Plus, even if they found the posts based on your real name, how would they know for sure they were by you?
posted by roofus at 8:39 PM on February 18 [1 favorite]

Good point. I have a mildly unusual name, and had never run across anyone with the same name until I got on usenet in the early 90s. Eventually I ran across two people with my name, both with interests wildly different from mine. Unless you have some unusual way you present your name (a la H. Ross Perot), or use three names (e.g., David Foster Wallace), I really wouldn't worry.
posted by words1 at 8:45 PM on February 18

Sorry, I'm afraid your alt.startrek.creative.erotica posts are going to be out there forever. Google probably isn't the only place they're archived even.

I was going to say "why would anyone search usenet even, virtually nobody these days is ever used it" but then I went to test my theory and searched for a bunch of my coworkers and found (innocuous) stuff each of them had written. Still nothing is recent enough to be interesting.
posted by aubilenon at 9:23 PM on February 18 [1 favorite]

Do employers actually search Google groups? Just comment on lots of blogs and sign your real name.
posted by delmoi at 9:49 PM on February 18

Oh you could also post in a bunch of groups so that your old posts get buried.
posted by delmoi at 9:56 PM on February 18

Anyone who ever read Usent could have archived those posts and made them available for searching. Google has no legal reason to remove those posts unless (possibly) they were libelous. A kind email is about all you can do. You can pay services to "clean up" your internet name, but they just send the same nice emails.

Start a blog, post non-embarrassing things under your own name. 'Cuz once you put it out there, man, it's gone.

Trust me, those posts have some very good company with whom they can all pool their embarrassment to keep warm. Back in 1990 no one had the faintest idea that this would last forever and get so popular...
posted by Ookseer at 10:17 PM on February 18 [1 favorite]

Sorry, but if you ever apply for a government clearance that requires an SSBI or get investigated by a corporate due diligence investigator, they'll find them.

even if they found the posts based on your real name, how would they know for sure they were by you?

It depends on how much uniquely identifying personal information you put in them. For example, I have an incredibly common first and last name, but an incredibly uncommon range of interests. In fact, a skilled investigator with a knowledge of my favorite conversational hobby-horses (easily obtainable through interviews with friends and family) could triangulate his way into discovering my identity cold, rooting up my pseudonyms. It's time-consuming and unlikely anyone would make the effort, but the more quirky your bio and constellation of interests, the easier it is.
posted by aquafortis at 10:34 PM on February 18

The fact that most of today's users will not have heard of usenet is immaterial if a Google search on your name returns links to them near the top of the list. Since you have little prospect of getting the source material removed I would second Ookseer's suggestion in saying your best bet is to create new content linked to your name which appears higher up the list. A professional blog would be a good way to do this - and would have the side benefit of boosting your reputation to anybody who makes a search for you online

One other point: YOU may be embarrassed by these posts written in your name. However I am not sure that somebody else googling your name would be able to say for certain that these posts where written by you. Your name may be unusual - but the odds of it being unique online are quite small.
posted by rongorongo at 1:49 AM on February 19 [1 favorite]

I think you may have to change your name I'm afraid. They are going to be everywhere not just on Google groups.
posted by mary8nne at 2:31 AM on February 19

I maintain multiple on line identities; when a prospective employer receives my CV (I'm a banker and part time University Lecturer) the email address they get googles up some very, very corporate interests. As far as that address goes, I'm squeaky clean however I too, have some rather puerile posts in my past.

Create a new and distinct email address solely to be used for jobs. If you haven't put too much personal information in a .sig when you did your usenet postings (I didn't!), this will get your through all but the most labour intensive (detailed upthread) HR background checks.

A key issue will be if they ask for any and all online identities as Obama did in his background checks (several of my colleagues applied and few actually got jobs so this was topical in my circles a few weeks ago).

Then you've got a decision to take. But worry about that if and when the time comes.
posted by Mutant at 4:36 AM on February 19

anonymous posted: I'd like to contact Google personally (preferably by email, as this would be the best as far as privacy would be concerned).

Actually snail mail is better if you are concerned about privacy. Unless you know good steps to cover your tracks via email then it is very easily traceable.
posted by JJ86 at 6:22 AM on February 19

When you posted them on usenet back in the day they became part of the public record. In my opinion you have no right to demand that they be removed from that record. Deal with it, it was a long time ago, people shouldn't care that much.
posted by BobbyDigital at 9:11 AM on February 19 [1 favorite]

put up other posts they will see first under the search criteria....
posted by xammerboy at 9:53 AM on February 19