Content published on the internet can remain accessible for a long time from the moment it is published and may have negative effects on people’s private lives, reputation or commercial activities. Untrue information, unauthorised posts, content that violates personality rights (kişilik hakları) or unlawful publications can cause lasting harm in the digital environment.

Removal of online content refers to the legal procedures carried out to have content removed from the internet when it is unlawful, damages personality rights or infringes the rights of a person or a business.

Why Do People Seek to Remove Content from the Internet?

In the digital world, content is not limited to the platform on which it was published. Through search engines, social media posts and other websites, it can reach much wider audiences.

Requests for content removal are most often based on the following situations:

news articles and posts that violate personality rights,
untrue or misleading online content,
photographs, videos and personal information used without permission,
insulting or reputation-damaging publications,
content that violates the privacy of private life,
publications that harm the commercial reputation of companies.

How Is Online Content Removed?

To have content on the internet removed, the legal nature of the content must first be determined. Not every negative or disturbing piece of content can be removed as a matter of law. For this reason, the balance between freedom of expression, the right to receive information and personality rights must be taken into account.

Depending on the nature of the content, different methods may be considered, such as:

applying to the person or organisation that published the content,
sending a removal request to the platforms,
applying to the competent legal authorities where the necessary conditions are met.

Online Publications That Violate Personality Rights

When a person’s name, photograph, information about their private life or personal data is published unlawfully, content on the internet can cause serious violations of rights.

In particular, news about past events that remains permanently accessible even though it is no longer current can adversely affect a person’s social and professional life. In such cases, the content needs to be assessed from a legal point of view.

Removal of Online Content for Companies

Content published on the internet can affect not only individuals but also businesses. Unfair criticism, untrue information, misleading content created by competitors or publications that damage brand value can harm a company’s commercial reputation.

For businesses engaged in commercial activities, it is important to monitor online content regularly and to act in good time against unlawful publications.

Removal of Photographs and Videos Shared Without Permission

Sharing photographs, videos or private information about a person without permission can have legal consequences in terms of the privacy of private life and personality rights.

In such cases, the appropriate legal route is determined by assessing where the content was published, how it spread and which rights it violates.

Removing Content from Search Engines and Digital Footprints

In some cases, taking action only against the website on which the content was published may not be enough. Content that continues to appear in search engines can affect the online visibility of a person or a business.

For this reason, in content removal procedures, the source of the publication, the search results and the effect created in the digital environment must be assessed together.

Preserving Evidence in the Online Content Removal Process

Online content can be changed or removed entirely over time. For this reason, it is important to record the existing situation correctly at the start of the legal process.

Screenshots, link details, publication dates and other digital records can be important elements in assessing the dispute.

A Legal Approach to Protecting Online Reputation

Today, the reputation of individuals and companies is shaped to a large extent in the digital environment. Unlawful content on the internet can cause not only existing harm but also loss of reputation in the future.

For this reason, content removal procedures should be seen not merely as deleting a publication, but as protecting the rights of a person or a business in the digital sphere.

Legal Solutions for Online Content with Attorney Ezgi Çalışkan

Attorney Ezgi Çalışkan carries out legal assessments of unlawful content published on the internet, violations of personality rights, online reputation problems and disputes arising from online platforms.

When resolving a content problem in the digital environment, determining the correct legal method is as important as acting quickly. You can obtain legal advice to have the nature of the publication examined and to establish a process that protects your rights.