Cyber Slander and Libel. How to Remove Defamatory Content from Google?

We live in a digital world where almost everything is documented online, which means that it is important to know how to remove defamatory content from Google. The thing is that such a post can result in a crisis that affects your business or personal reputation. Let it be a slanderous comment posted in a public forum or a libelous article made on a website, online defamation can cause harm.

Moreover, such content can easily appear and spread in Google search results, where it can be accessed by millions of people, including on various social media sites .

If you are dealing with cyber slander, libel, or defamation online, it is critical to understand the nuances of these terms and how to effectively solve the issue.

NonDetected is here to help with tips, explanations, and content removal services.

What Is the Difference?

Before you learn how to remove defamatory content from Google, it is vital to understand the difference between slander, defamation, and libel.

These terms tend to be used interchangeably, but each of them has distinct meanings, especially in the context of online reputation management.

Defamation

This is an overarching term that implies any false statement, both spoken and written, that harms the reputation of a group, individual, or business. The main element of defamation is that the statement is harmful and false.

It can also be subdivided into two primary categories:

• Slander, which is spoken defamation.
• Libel, which is published or written defamation.

This issue can come in different forms, from online reviews and comments to entire news articles or blog posts. In short, any false statement that damages the target`s reputation in the eyes of others can be regarded as defamation.

Slander

Slander is nothing but spoken defamatory statements. Unlike written content, slander is often more ephemeral because it is almost never saved or recorded. It is typically verbal and can be shared in speeches, conversations, videos, podcasts, or during interviews.

Although it might seem less harmful than written content, if you do not remove slander, it can still cause serious issues. If it reaches a wide audience, especially on social media platforms where conversations can be quickly spread and shared.

For instance, an individual might slander a colleague by making false accusations about their professionalism during a public interview. Even though it does not leave a permanent trace, its widespread reach through a slander website or social media can amplify the harm it causes.

Libel

Libel refers to defamatory statements that are published or written. You should consider that libelous statements are more permanent because the material is recorded and can be accessed at any moment. Such content can appear in many forms online, such as news, blog posts, online reviews, news articles, forum posts, or even social media posts.

One of the main characteristics of libel is that it is published content, which implies that it is highly likely to remain accessible for a long period of time.

For instance, a false review posted on Google, a defamatory statement in an online article about a celebrity, or a misleading post about a business can all be regarded as libel.

How Do Slander, Defamation, and Libel Appear Online?

Now that you know what defamation, slander, and libel are, you should understand how they appear online before you learn about content removal strategies to remove false information from Google.

Even though slander is typically regarded as spoken defamation, in the modern digital world, it often appears as harmful spoken words captured on social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram.

This is where people can quickly share harmful opinions, comments, or accusations that can escalate into slander if the statements are damaging and false. That is when you have to quickly learn patient slander how to remove.

The libel that is written defamation is much more common on the internet because of the permanence of the written content. This kind of content can often be found in online news articles, reviews, forums, blogs, and comment sections.

Such material can have significant effects on a business`s reputation. Just one false or exaggerated bad review can have an impact on potential customers and hurt sales.

How Do I Remove Defamatory Content from Google Search Results?

Removing defamatory content online requires fast actions. Google search results tend to serve as the first source of information people turn to when searching for businesses or individuals. It implies that such content appearing in search results can have lasting consequences.

The great part is that there are a few strategies to solve the issue.

1. Contact the Website Owner, Webmaster, or Content Publisher

The first step in addressing online defamation is to contact the website or content publisher directly. If such information appears on a certain website, blog, or review platform, reaching out to the website owner or administrator is critical.

Many websites have contact information available in the form of a contact page or email address, and you can use it to ask to remove defamatory content.

While sending your request, you should:

• Be polite but firm.
• Provide evidence showing that the content is false or damaging.
• Explain why the content violates relevant laws or guidelines.

For instance, if a blog post contains false statements about a business, you should ask the author to correct the information or delete the post entirely.

If the defamatory content appears in a user-generated review on Google Reviews or Yelp, you can flag the review for removal if it violates platform policies.

2. Use Google’s Content Removal Tools to Delete Defamatory Statements

Google provides tools to remove content that violates certain legal guidelines, such as defamatory content. You can send a legal removal request through Google’s official content removal form, especially if the content in question is harmful or violates Google’s policies.

While Google typically does not erase information just because it is negative, it may consider removal requests if the content is:

• Defamatory.
• Harassing.
• Illegal.
• Violates privacy rights.

To file a removal request, you need to do the following:

• Go to Google’s Remove Outdated Content page.
• Enter the URL of the page where the defamatory content appears.
• Select the reason for the removal (e.g., defamatory content).
• Follow the instructions to submit the request.

Google will review the request, and if they find it violates their guidelines, they may erase it from search results.

3. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Content Suppression

In some cases, it is not possible to remove online defamation entirely. You just need to keep this idea in mind.

However, you can do a few things to suppress or push down the negative content by producing and optimizing positive content about yourself or your business.

This is a proactive strategy that leverages search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to promote positive content and reduce the visibility of harmful information.

Here are several SEO strategies to help suppress defamatory content:

• Create high-quality, positive content. Publishing articles, blog posts, videos, and press releases that highlight your achievements, values, or positive customer experiences will help push negative content down in search rankings.
• Focus on positive reviews. You should encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, or Trustpilot. Positive reviews can help drown out negative ones.
• Engage in social media. If you post content that aligns with your values and highlights your expertise on a regular basis, you can create a positive presence that allows you to mitigate the impact of defamatory material.

If you cannot remove slander from internet, creating a strong and positive digital footprint can be the right solution. In this case, search engines will favor new content over the negative one.

4. Legal Actions: Defamation Lawsuits

If the defamatory content is serious or particularly damaging, you might have to take legal action. If the information is both false and harmful, it may qualify as defamation under the law.

In such cases, you can consider filing a defamation lawsuit against the individual or entity responsible for publishing the harmful material or issuing a DMCA takedown notice if applicable (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) .

A cease-and-desist letter is often the first step in a defamation case. It demands that the defendant should stop publishing defamatory content and take it down. If the defendant does not do so, you can move forward with a defamation lawsuit in civil court.

While legal action can be time-consuming and costly, it may be the most effective way to remove slander from Internet.

5. Reputation Management Services and Negative Content Removal Services

If you find that removing defamatory content from Google results is challenging or time-consuming, you might want to consider hiring a reputation management service, such as NonDetected.

This kind of company specializes in online reputation repair, focusing on removing, suppressing, or mitigating harmful content. A professional online reputation management service, such as NonDetected, can help:

• Identify and assess defamatory content.
• Contact website owners and request removals.
• Push negative content down in search engine rankings.
• Create new, positive content to replace harmful material.

Reputation management services are especially helpful for businesses or individuals who do not have the time, resources, or expertise to delete libelous statements from Google on their own.

Wrapping Up

In today’s hyper-connected world, defamatory content, whether in the form of slander, libel, or general defamation, can damage a person’s or business’s online reputation in ways that are both immediate and long-lasting.

Understanding the differences between slander, libel, and internet defamation, and knowing how to remove slander from Google search results is critical.

While erasing negative or defamatory content from Google search results is not always easy, there are effective steps you can take, such as contacting content publishers, using Google’s removal tools, leveraging SEO to suppress negative material, seeking legal recourse, or hiring a professional reputation management service.

NonDetected will help you take fast action and employ the right strategies, and this will regain control over your digital presence and protect your online reputation. Our professionals know all the steps to remove cyber slander, so you can be sure that they will solve the issue quickly and effectively.