theForum » Information on the internet » The Google effect » Just when I thought it was almost over

Just when I thought it was almost over

xDanx — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 04:36:47 GMT

Good Afternoon all

Here I am once again to vent some frustration over recent events, I was hoping I never had to go down this route but sadly I do not see any other way. I have submitted to Google that I be removed from being searched.

So, what happened?
Since successfully discharging my SHPO earlier this year, there was at least 2 months of wait time before the "mark" was removed from the system as my work coach calls it. enabling him to refer me to various training courses he had access too. Of course we tried to re-apply to a local college for a course I was previously interested in, so far I am still waiting for a response if I can join or not. I applied for a different course myself which boasted the fact they help those with convictions, I was asked if I had any unspent convictions of which I said no, there was a conviction but that is now considered spent. I never spoke of my conviction over the phone. I get a date to go down and check out the place, filled in some paper work, spoke with the lead where he had to ask more confidential questions. Asked if I had any convictions in which I said the same thing, there was but it is now considered spent. He pushed further and wanted me to declare what the conviction was, rather than argue I was hesitant in giving the information but did anyway hoping he would recognize the fact it was spent. I stated I feel given the conviction is now spent, that I was under no obligation to provide such information. But he stated spent or unspent if we ask we are still entitled to that information.

Once the paper work was done, he politely asked me to go home and he would ask around the venue and would call me to let me know if I can join or not. I get a phone call earlier today with the bad news that they reject my application to participate, being rather frustrated I asked if they went through any official channels like MAPPA. He said no but refer to public articles to gather information. I asked for him to clarify on this and he basically admitted that a google search was done. In the end I just ended the call by saying "How is anyone able to get the help they need if they are simply not given the chance to move on?", He just agreed and stated he gets this a lot but just wanted me off the phone it seems. I thanked him for his time and ended the call.

I will await the response from Google

Feedback is always welcome and appreciated

RE: Just when I thought it was almost over

khafka — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 04:36:47 GMT

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[b]AB2014 - 6 Aug 24 3:52 PM[/b]

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[b]Jamie7718 - 6 Jul 24 12:25 PM[/b]

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[b]david123 - 5 Jul 24 4:36 PM[/b]

I have had the same response twice from both Google and the ICO both saying there was still a public interest reason for not removing vigilante links to my name even though my conviction was over ten years ago and spent and my SHPO was dismissed five years early with the support of the police!

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This worries me. Why would someone on this forum seem to have no issue getting links removed. But then someone like yourself have a problem with getting removed. Ive not searched my own name and I wont till my SHPO is over. I just hope in just over a year the links have somehow vanished or im able to get them removed.

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The only thing I can think of in cases like this is if the person is still on the SOR, they will use that to say it is still in the public interest. We've also seen on here that they seem to apply England & Wales rules across the UK.

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That was basically my experience (albeit it in Scotland). Google were very reluctant to remove me under the "public interest" guise while I was still on the register but as soon as I came off I didn't receive any backlash from them. I did actually raise the query as to what their definition/criteria for "public interest" actually is but they wouldn't specify.

RE: Just when I thought it was almost over

AB2014 — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 15:52:08 GMT

[quote]

[b]Jamie7718 - 6 Jul 24 12:25 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]david123 - 5 Jul 24 4:36 PM[/b]

[/quote]

RE: Just when I thought it was almost over

Aradia — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 12:25:14 GMT

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[b]david123 - 5 Jul 24 4:36 PM[/b]

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RE: Just when I thought it was almost over

david123 — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 16:36:11 GMT

RE: Just when I thought it was almost over

khafka — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 23:01:38 GMT

[quote]

[b]xDanx - 3 Jul 24 2:56 PM[/b]

Nice to see the forums are working again

I replied to Google, included documentation to prove the outcome of the hearing that my SHPO was discharged.
I also quoted the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act to explain that the conviction is now considered spent and no longer in the public interest.

Google replied saying they will not be taking any action to de-list the links, as it is still in the public interest based on the case they have seen in said links.

I will fill out a new form entirely, providing further details as Google are no longer replying to my emails asking for clarification.
If that fails then I will have to take it up with the ICO

[/quote]

That's disappointing to hear but sadly not entirely surprising if I'm being honest.

I will advise a bit of caution around ICO. While this is anecdotal they ended up making things much worse for me and caused a sort of "Streisand effect" situation where they ended up reaching out to the websites (namely the vigilante stuff) saying "Hey, Khafka wants you to remove the stuff you're saying about him!" - which in those kind of circles I'm sure you could imagine how well that went over.

RE: Just when I thought it was almost over

xDanx — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 14:56:03 GMT

RE: Just when I thought it was almost over

khafka — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 08:51:10 GMT

[quote]

[b]xDanx - 28 Jun 24 9:50 AM[/b]

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[b]khafka - 28 Jun 24 6:19 AM[/b]

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[b]xDanx - 27 Jun 24 11:43 AM[/b]

Just had a reply back from Google and they decided not to follow my request as they believe it is still in the public interest.
Suggested I contact the webmasters of where my information is stored to have it removed, like that is ever going to happen.
They never asked me for court documents to prove my SHPO is discharged.

I will take some time with this to find all the relevant information to back my case that I have the right to be forgotten.

I should be able to send a reply to the googles removal email correct?

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Yeah, you should be able to reply directly to that email. What I will say though is you're still subject to notification requirements (irrespective of the SHPO) then they'll almost always just tell you to jog on, that was my experience anyway.

As AB2014, once I came off the register there basically zero issues and the agreed to remove the stuff.

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I am reading up some things to get better understanding, Rehabilitation Act, Solicitor websites who specialize in this kind of thing.

Once I have it all in writing to prove my point, I will send it all back to Google and see what they say then.

I may even put in a complaint to the organization who rejected me, I was under no obligation to disclose the conviction but forced it out of me anyway.

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Best of luck, mate! I know how much of a pain it can be and was a bit of a relief once the stuff was removed for me.

As I said earlier on, any questions or whatever please don't hesitate to ask away. I'll try and help answer and help the best I can!

RE: Just when I thought it was almost over

punter99 — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 09:56:48 GMT

[quote]

[b]xDanx - 28 Jun 24 9:50 AM[/b]

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[b]khafka - 28 Jun 24 6:19 AM[/b]

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[b]xDanx - 27 Jun 24 11:43 AM[/b]

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If you are going to be on the SOR for a while, then maybe the easiest option right now is just change your name by deed poll?

RE: Just when I thought it was almost over

xDanx — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 09:50:42 GMT

[quote]

[b]khafka - 28 Jun 24 6:19 AM[/b]

[quote]

[b]xDanx - 27 Jun 24 11:43 AM[/b]

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RE: Just when I thought it was almost over

khafka — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 06:19:43 GMT

[quote]

[b]xDanx - 27 Jun 24 11:43 AM[/b]

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RE: Just when I thought it was almost over

AB2014 — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 12:46:06 GMT

[quote]

[b]xDanx - 27 Jun 24 11:43 AM[/b]

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I suspect that if you're still on the SOR, they would use that as justification. If you are still on it, then when you're off it, you should be in a stronger position.

RE: Just when I thought it was almost over

xDanx — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 11:43:47 GMT

RE: Just when I thought it was almost over

AB2014 — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 09:02:57 GMT

[quote]

[b]xDanx - 25 Jun 24 4:03 PM[/b]

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I have to say that if your conviction is spent, it is rehabilitated. You don't have to refer to it, or say you have a spent conviction. The law used to say that once your conviction is spent, you have the right to be treated in the same way as someone who doesn't have that conviction. Now it says you shall be treated as if you had never been charged, prosecuted, convicted or sentenced for that offence. If they have other lawful means of finding out, that hints at an enhanced DBS check, but you don't seem to be someone engaged in regulated activity. Do they reuqest an enhanced DBS check on all their students? If you are still on the SOR for a short while, the police might have something to say about it, but that is Common Law Disclosure, which isn't something you have to do unless they tell you to do it.

RE: Just when I thought it was almost over

Mr W — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 13:41:50 GMT

I think when the dogma is / rules are unfair, we have to give ourselves a little leeway.
It sounds obvious when I say it out loud but there is no instruction manual about what to do in our situation outside of the hard line rules and there are fewer to put up with now you're unspent.
We've made it this far but we all must carve our own path. And although being honest is a good quality in most situations, me personally, for things like education courses and the like, I'm never bringing the conviction up again as soon as I'm spent. It's nobody's business and every conversation I've been forced to have so far (while unspent) has ended with me losing out. Life's too short for that.
Those who *really need to know* will probably have the means to find out. So, without being too underhanded, let them do the work. So while this bridge may be burned, come at the next one with a fresh outlook.
Meanwhile, my advice and not the advice of Unlock or anyone else, if you're spent, just say no full stop, and crack on with rebuilding your life. You've got through the hardest part and you've been punished enough. It's time to give yourself the advantage as a 'normal' person again. And again, those hindered by the Google effect, just change your name or at least your surname. It's TOO easy for someone to just Google an exact name now. I don't just mean professionals but, as someone else on here talked about, getting snitched on by a fellow student or employee who decided to have a quick Google.
I know Khafka's had a great result but for me, my new name comes up with nothing and I'll still endeavour to get my old name delisted when the time comes.

As a side note: I've just been reading in the DailyFail that an Olympian in a different country has previous for rape. He's been dealt with and has the right to move on. But alas, this feckless newspaper for no real reason decides to give a 'normal' man who is *so good at what he does, that he's representing his country*... is given a sucker-punch about the past.

RE: Just when I thought it was almost over

khafka — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 19:41:48 GMT

That's annoying! But sadly I can't say I'm 100% shocked.

As for Google, I actually managed to get results removed earlier this year, I documented my journey with it in another post.

https://forum.unlock.org.uk/Topic34534-1.aspx

I'm happy to lend to some help and advice if you need any, feel free to ask away and I'll try and guide you as best as I can.