personal info for the net to see
March 8, 2012 11:24 AM Subscribe
Someone posted my friend's personal information on his blog to get his readers to harrass him. His name, address, school, email, and facebook are posted. This blog is frequented by a significant amount of readers. What should he do to get his personal information off the blog and to keep himself safe?
There might be a real problem with posting the address and the school, depending on where you live and whether or not this info is easily found. Have you talked to the blog host?
Or to the person who posted this?
posted by Lesser Shrew at 11:41 AM on March 8, 2012
Or to the person who posted this?
posted by Lesser Shrew at 11:41 AM on March 8, 2012
First thought: what EmpressCallipygos says - check the host's ToS and see if you can get them to take it down.
If this is a friend in high school or younger your options are different than if you mean a college student. In the former case, your friend might want to try and involve the school administration or parents. If all parties involved are adults, there's a lot less you can do, unless this is serious enough to involve slander/libel laws.
posted by Wretch729 at 11:44 AM on March 8, 2012
If this is a friend in high school or younger your options are different than if you mean a college student. In the former case, your friend might want to try and involve the school administration or parents. If all parties involved are adults, there's a lot less you can do, unless this is serious enough to involve slander/libel laws.
posted by Wretch729 at 11:44 AM on March 8, 2012
First make take screenshots and printouts. Second, follow advice above. Third, consult with local lawyer about local laws.
And if the language used for the "harassing" in any way implies violence (even in a "jokey, nod-wink" way), call the police and tell them you are being threatened and someone is inciting violence against you.
posted by mikepop at 12:43 PM on March 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
And if the language used for the "harassing" in any way implies violence (even in a "jokey, nod-wink" way), call the police and tell them you are being threatened and someone is inciting violence against you.
posted by mikepop at 12:43 PM on March 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
If there is any hint of a threat of violence, call the police. They are being paid to keep you safe, and if safety is a concern, they should be involved.
posted by markblasco at 1:45 PM on March 8, 2012
posted by markblasco at 1:45 PM on March 8, 2012
Response by poster: It is getting out of hand. These people are contacting his school. I will definitely tell him to contact the host. Thanks for the advices so far.
posted by squirtle at 2:37 PM on March 8, 2012
posted by squirtle at 2:37 PM on March 8, 2012
Response by poster: How do you find out who's hosting the site? Its not a LJ, blogger, or anything like that.
posted by squirtle at 2:43 PM on March 8, 2012
posted by squirtle at 2:43 PM on March 8, 2012
http://www.whoishostingthis.com/
posted by zug at 3:33 PM on March 8, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by zug at 3:33 PM on March 8, 2012 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks, I already emailed the blogger's host. I will also give them a call tomorrow during work hours. Not sure what else I can do now... I'm fearing for his safety while his personal information is still up :(
posted by squirtle at 7:55 PM on March 8, 2012
posted by squirtle at 7:55 PM on March 8, 2012
Response by poster: Police report is also being filed.
posted by squirtle at 9:36 PM on March 8, 2012
posted by squirtle at 9:36 PM on March 8, 2012
Even if there is no threat of violence it sounds like this is causing your friend a lot of stress, mental anguish and possible consequences to his education, which in turn could cause a lifetime loss of income, etc. In other words, your friend should find a lawyer sooner rather than later. First, a lawyer might be able to get stuff taken down more quickly. Second, legal action improves the odds that there won't be a repeat performance, or escalation. If the harasser really wants to harass, he can keep dragging this out by jumping to new web hosts/blogging services every time one gets shut down.
posted by mikepop at 5:11 AM on March 9, 2012
posted by mikepop at 5:11 AM on March 9, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
(As for how to find that -- depends on whether it's something like Livejournal, wordpress, etc., or his own domain; not asking for the blog's URL, but whether you know what kind of thing it is.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:38 AM on March 8, 2012 [1 favorite]