8 Questions About Removing Personal Information Online in the UK
Removing personal information online usually means contacting the website holding it and, separately where necessary, the search engine displaying it. UK data-protection rights can help, but they do not guarantee that every unwanted mention disappears. I would begin with the exact page, the information causing concern and the outcome needed, rather than sending a general demand to delete everything about me.
1. Where is the information actually published?
Record the full page address, relevant text and a dated screenshot before making changes. A search result, original article, social post and copied page may involve different organisations. If the page appears on Local News Point, for example, identify that specific page rather than treating the publication’s homepage as the material you want removed.
2. Does removing personal information online mean erasure?
Not always. You may need deletion, correction, reduced visibility or removal from searches against your name. Decide what would resolve the problem. If a page contains an incorrect address, correcting it may be different from removing the entire page. Deleting your account also may not delete every public contribution or record the organisation lawfully retains.
3. When can I request erasure?
The UK GDPR right to erasure applies in specified circumstances, including information no longer needed for its original purpose or unlawfully processed data. Withdrawing consent can matter where consent was the relevant legal basis. It does not automatically override every other lawful reason for retaining information. Explain which circumstances apply rather than relying only on the phrase “right to be forgotten”.
4. Why might a publisher refuse?
The right is not absolute. Freedom of expression, legal obligations, public-interest functions and legal claims can justify retaining information in appropriate cases. The ICO recognises these limits. An article is not automatically removable merely because it is unwelcome, but lawful original publication does not settle every later question about accuracy, relevance or continued processing.
For any publisher, whether presshubs.co.uk or another site, keep your request specific: identify the words, explain the privacy concern and say what remedy you seek. Do not assume the site holds information about you simply because its domain appears in a search or directory.
5. Will search-result removal delete the source?
No. The ICO explains that delisting a result does not erase the original webpage. A search provider may assess requests concerning results against your name, balancing privacy with public access to information. The original material can remain accessible through direct links or other routes. A publisher request and a search-engine request therefore serve different purposes. Repeat searches after changes appear.
6. What should my request contain?
Include the exact URLs, the personal information concerned, your relationship to it and a clear explanation of the problem. Use the organisation’s privacy contact or the search provider’s relevant form. For material hosted by Weekly Journal, the request should concern that host’s actual page; a separate website cannot normally edit it on your behalf.
Organisations may reasonably need to confirm identity, but the ICO says checks should be proportionate. Ask why additional documents are necessary and use a verified submission route. Avoid supplying unrelated sensitive information merely to make the request look more persuasive.
7. How long should I allow?
The ICO’s published erasure guidance generally requires a response within one month, subject to applicable identity checks. Complex or numerous requests can justify up to two additional months, with an explanation within the initial month. Keep acknowledgements and dates. A response deadline is not a promise that the organisation must grant every request.
Where information creates an immediate safety concern, make the risk explicit in the platform or publisher report rather than burying it in a general privacy request. Preserve evidence before removal if harassment or threats are involved. Do not wait for an ordinary erasure timetable to seek police help when someone may be in immediate danger.
8. What if the answer is unsatisfactory?
Ask the organisation to explain its decision, use its complaints process and retain the correspondence for an ICO complaint. Review copies and fresh search results separately. Prioritise harmful information and prevent unnecessary new disclosures instead of expecting one request to erase your entire history.
This article provides general UK privacy information, not advice on an individual legal dispute.