missing person's
"digital footprint"
There are many reasons why somebody may choose to go missing and while it can cause tremendous worry and hurt, they are entitled to do so, as long as they are not in danger or a danger to others.
It is normal for worried family members and friends, to post online appeals for help. A report made to Gardai often results in a Missing Persons alert being issued by the Garda Press Office, which is then taken up by News Media and may be widely shared.
One of the consequences of shared personal data and which is not often considered, is the fact that most of those published and shared appeals are still out there long after the person has been located, this is known as your "Digital Footprint". While this may not be an immediate issue, down the line it can present unexpected problems. We are often approached by individuals who at one time in their past, may have been declared as a Missing Person and been the subject of online appeals. Years later, an online search by somebody, perhaps a potential employer, reveals personal information which was long considered as forgotten.
Remove a Missing Person's Digital Footprint
It can be difficult to get a missing person's personal information removed from the internet. Every individual is entitled to have their personal information protected under Article 8 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Search and Request
Search for the missing person's name online. Take a note of the websites. Email the owner of the website to request removal of your details and advise the person is no longer missing and leaving the appeal online is now having an adverse effect on the person's life.
Right to be Forgotten
The right to erasure (Articles 17 & 19 of the GDPR) This is also known as the ‘right to be forgotten’.
You have the right to have your data erased, without undue delay, by the data controller, if one of the following grounds applies:
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Where your personal data are no longer necessary in relation to the purpose for which it was collected or processed.
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Where you withdraw your consent to the processing and there is no other lawful basis for processing the data.
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Where you object to the processing and there is no overriding legitimate grounds for continuing the processing (see point 6 below).
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Where you object to the processing and your personal data are being processed for direct marketing purposes (see point 6 below).
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Where your personal data have been unlawfully processed.
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Where your personal data have to be erased in order to comply with a legal obligation.
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Where your personal data have been collected in relation to the offer of information society services (e.g. social media) to a child.
More information on GDPR can be found on the Irish Data Protection Commission website here
You can contact the Irish Data Protection Commission here if you encounter issues with removal.
Social Media
When a missing person appeal is shared on social media platforms like Facebook, X, TikTok and other platforms, the person sharing does not always understand the impact it can have on the person found when they are left online.
Facebook Click here to fill out a form to request removal of details
Twitter / X Submit a request by completing this Privacy Form
TikTok Click here to submit a Privacy Request for removal
Search Engines
Fill out any of these forms to request to have webpages which include your personal information removed from their web searches.
Google: To remove the missing person's details from Google searches, click on this link to fill out the form:
Personal Data Removal Request Form
Bing: To remove the missing person's details from Bing searches, click on this link to fill out the form:
Request to Block Bing Search Results In Europe
Yahoo: To remove the missing person's details from Yahoo, click on this link to fill out the form:
Requests to Block search results in Yahoo Search: Resource for European Residents