Thanks for sharing that information Firewalker.

I wonder if there's an opportunity to push back against Google and request that this decision is reconsidered?

They've stated that this information "is being published and provided to search engines by a government body or agency". It also says that this is happening on an "ongoing basis".

That's all incorrect. In fact it "was" being published. It no longer is. It goes onto the Register of Insolvencies instead. This register requires a password for access and isn't, I believe, available to search engines.

If the government has concluded that making this information available to search engines isn't a matter of public interest, why would Google take a different position?

Hi TDA.

I am not sure I fully understand what you have written. Are you saying that the Trust Deed is no longer published in the Edinburgh
Gazette?

I wrote to the Edinburgh Gazette and they replied it is their decision to make it available to search engines for 4 years and 11 months after which time they cease that. Mine has ceased. it just so happened the timing was around the time I wrote to Google. For me, it was two different concerns. My entry no longer appears in a google search from the Edinburgh Gazette.

Google is saying that so long as the official public record (being the Edinburgh Gazette)makes it available to the public (which they do for 4 years and 11 months), they will continue to link it.

When I approached Google I did say that the AIB and my credit reference information could be accessed by registering and password - and that was appropriate use of the information. I believed that publishing my full name and address in a general google search was excessive and inappropriate use of the information and could affect my work. I also pointed out that the information was incomplete since the Trust Deed had been concluded.

Their response is to approach the Gazette and have the 'programming' for searches changed. I had done that and they refused until the 4 years and 11 months. So, if the Ed Gazette had not ceased the link it could be on there forever.

More concerningly is that a company in Romania has captured the information from the Gazette, and it is now appearing in google searches via their company. I have submitted a request to Google to get that removed. It will be interesting to see how they handle this request because there are potential personal security issues dealing with removal of informatin from their site.

Sorry I did not quite understand your post TDA. If I have missed anything in it, please let me know. I do agree with the main part of your post though - that it should be available to those with relevant interest. So, that comes back to the programming of the source in question I think.

That's right Firewalker. A trust deed is no longer advertised in the Edinburgh Gazette. An entry is made in the Register of Insolvencies instead.

That indicates to me that the "powers that be" don't (any longer at least) perceive that there is any public interest in this information being readily available via internet searches on your name.

Regarding the situation of the Romanian site that's scraping content from public records, it will be very interesting to see whether Google takes a different view.

It will also be interesting to see whether this highly dubious website remains in the Google rankings at all once they've reviewed it.

I did not realise that about the change to publishing in the Gazette.
I feel quite peeved then that the Gazette still keep the link open for that length of time. So, basically it means that those with an older Trust Deed can appear in the search and more recently would not. Seems unfair.

Anyway, do you happen to have the date that that change was made.
Although while google may capture it, and use the public record as justification, it would seem to be the responsibility of the Gazette to revise its policy based on the change in registering insolvencies.

Yes, it will be very interesting to see how Google handles the request regarding the Romanian Site.

Hi Firewalker.

30th November 2013 I think.

I think that there is an argument to be made to the Gazette, which is published by The Stationary Office, that they should amend their policy to be more in line with the one now used by the Accountant in Bankruptcy.

Thanks for that TDA.
This information could be of interest to the other Forum members with active TDs. Perhaps if they all wrote to the Gazette it may get some action.

Or perhaps the Accountant in Bankruptcy could contact the Edinburgh Gazette if they don't believe that this information being available via search engines is of sufficient public interest to justify the potential consequences for those affected?

My trust deed from 2006 still appears in the Gazette. Is this right? It concluded in 2009/2010.

Yes weesenga, the information on the Gazette is a permanent record.

The question being debated revolves around whether it's right for Google to make this information available if someone searches for your name in their search engine.

Also... whether it's right that the Gazette doesn't take the straightforward step of keeping the information on their website, but coding those pages so that search engines like Google don't "cache" them to show in their search results.

If it's not available via a search engine, it would take a knowledgeable and determined person to locate the record via the Gazette's website.

Hi Weesenga.

If you put in your name and town to Google (seems to be more about them), see if anything comes up.

The Gazette de-codes or disables access by internet searches after 4 years and 11 months from the date your Trust Deed became active although as TDA says, it remains on The Gazette records as a public record.

I think I read on here that the AIB removes it a year after it is discharged but that may not be accurate.

There should be some 'rules' or 'guideline' that deals with the information consistently.

OKAY I have received a second response from Google. Same standard response. The company decides they want it printed and so they believe it should be in the public interest.

In the first case, as I quoted before, the Gazette entry link with google expired after 4 years and 11 months.

However, I discovered there is a Romanian company who clones the information and stores it. Their information appears in google searches.

To request they remove it under the Data Protection act of Romania requires a complex procedure plus, more alarmingly, a notarised copy of government ID such as passport or driving licence along with an original signature. they will not deal with any e-mails. It all has to be by post with codes sent back and forward. A load of baloney!

The company has been the subject of much debate on other forums/for a.

I have explained to google how dangerous this is and they should consider seriously the part they are playing in this scam.

So, stuck between a rock and a hard place. It is an indefinite listing so forever more my name and address will be displayed saying I had a trust deed. And if I try to remove it I run the risk of someone using my personal ID for fraudulent purposes.

I have sent an urgent and serious appeal to Google about their decision and given them the reasons again.

This is wrong on so many levels and I feel upset and frustrated by it all.

Hi Firewalker.

Just to confirm, Google has refused to remove the link on the Romanian site from their search results?

Yes TDA. Here is there response. It is the same as the last response for the Edinburgh Gazette link.

There is a comment advising me to contact the site's Webmaster.
However, the procedure for contacting them is complex and they require information which could compromise my personal security.
So, it seems as if we are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I have appealed to Google on this occasion.

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to us.

With regards to the following URLs:

gazette.uk.globe24h.com/0/0/edinburgh xxxxxxx

It appears that the content on this/these URL(s) is being published and provided to search engines, on an ongoing basis, by a government body or agency. In light of the government's ongoing choice to make this material available to the public, our conclusion is that Google's reference to this information in our search results is justified by the public interest.

At this time, Google has decided not to take action on these URLs.

You may have the right to raise this issue with your country's data protection authority if you are unhappy with the decision that Google has taken. In that communication, you may wish to include the reference number of 8-7328000004172 and a copy of your form submission confirmation for this request to Google.

You may wish to send your request for removal directly to the webmaster, who controls the site in question. The webmaster has the ability to remove the content in question from the web, or block it from appearing in search engines. You can visit support.google.com/websearch/answer/9109?hl=en to learn how to contact a site's webmaster.

If outdated content from a site is still appearing in Google Search results, you can ask Google to update or remove the page using our webpage removal request tool at google.com/webmasters/tools/removals.

Regards,
The Google Team

That's a shame Firewalker.

I do feel a bit sorry for Google on this. It's strange that they're forced to make these determinations as it's an area that's well outside of their experience and competence.

Will you take this to the Information Commissioner if your appeal isn't successful?