Any video where your rights are violated or your right to honor and dignity is violated, you have the possibility to delete the video from the Internet. We show you how to do it in the most common cases.
The problem with videos on the Internet
If so, we can help you. Find out more without obligation
Something that happens regularly on the Internet, especially on social networks, is to come across videos in which you appear.
The person who has published them may not be aware that the videos are considered personal data and that their dissemination without our consent is sufficient reason to request their deletion.
For this reason, if you want to remove videos from the Internet, the Organic Law on Data Protection (LOPD) recognizes our right to request the removal of these videos if we consider them inappropriate or excessive.
What is always recommended as a first step is to contact the person who uploaded the video(s) and ask them directly to remove them.
What should you know about deleting videos from the Internet?
All videos appearing on the Internet, as well as most of the content, are stored on websites of different types.
The difference is that videos are usually concentrated on specific platforms such as Youtube, Vimeo, Dailymotion or Twitch.
We also have SaaS (Software as a Service) sites such as Wistia, Vidyard or Loom, where videos are also stored to be used in different ways.
The particularity they all have in common is that the hosted videos can be shared all over the Internet or inserted into other pages as a resource and even indexed in search engines.
This means that sometimes we have to go to the source to delete a video that is posted on a web page or shared on a social network in order to remove it permanently.
As you can see, the digital footprint on the Internet is sometimes difficult to remove permanently.
What should you do to remove videos from the Internet?
Videos circulating on the Internet always have a source, either the platform where they are hosted or an external one from which they originate.
In the process of online reputation management we must take several aspects into consideration:
If a video is hosted on the website or application itself, we will have to directly ask that place to remove it, as we do not want it to remain public. In addition, they usually have forms for reporting complaints about publications.
In the event that the video is published on a web page but is hosted elsewhere, such as YouTube, we must ask the web user to remove it and also the platform.
If in the latter case, it is indexed in the search engine, we must also request that it be removed from the index so that it does not appear.
Yes, as crazy as it sounds, sometimes we will have to delete the video from up to three different places. If this also happens at times when you have to manage an online reputation crisis, there will certainly be many more and it will have to be done quickly, which is not easy if you do not have a professional team.
Delete videos from social media
In this case we can have two types of videos depending on the social networks.
On the one hand, there are social networks that allow us to upload or create videos that are hosted on them and, on the other hand, there are social networks where videos are shared.
Whatever the case may be, within social networks you can report a video to be removed or have the entire post taken down.
In the case of a publication within the social network, for example, YouTube, the network itself has systems for detecting violations and publications that violate the social network itself, such as pornography or the use of trademarks without consent.
If it is not such a publication you can delete a video by reporting it within the platform. Here’s how to delete a video on YouTube.
When it is a shared video, such as on Facebook or Twitter, it is handled differently, as you can report the post to be removed, but you will have to go to the source in order to remove it permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the rights to a video on the Internet?
Initially, the rights to a video that is published on the Internet are held by whoever publishes it, although factors such as image rights would come into play here.
In case you appear in a video without your consent you can claim that the video is removed.
If we are talking about brands, they can claim image rights or directly ask to be removed.
Can I delete any video from the Internet?
As you have no rights over videos that you have not published, you cannot remove any video from the Internet.
In order to do so, it must violate your honor or privacy.
What happens if a personal video is not removed after I request it?
If they do not remove a video after requesting it, legal action may be taken against the person who posted it or the platform on which it is posted.
Generally, platforms such as YouTube agree to remove videos when individual rights are violated or the right to be forgotten is exercised.
In the case of private websites, the person in charge is the one who assumes the responsibility.
Can I claim damages for posting personal videos without consent?
Yes, you have the right to claim damages if a video has violated your honor and privacy.
This is a common occurrence in “revenge porn“ and the sharing of private personal information can result in penalties for the person who does so.
Are videos posted about a person on the same level as videos posted about a brand?
No. The videos in which people appear have a more personal component and the laws protect this type of individual freedom of persons and the right to privacy.
In the case of brand videos, they are usually made to make a profit or to discredit a brand. This may also be punishable if the trademark is reported.
Can I delete videos of my children or someone else?
You may request the deletion of videos of persons you have legal guardianship over or if written legal authorization has been assigned to delete a video on your behalf.
Content removal companies often perform these types of services.
As you can see, removing videos from the Internet takes work because it requires, on the one hand, finding the source and, on the other hand, identifying where it may be hosted, and this can be difficult to do and detect.
In these cases is when we recommend that, to avoid unnecessary headaches and waste of time, you resort to professional services that can do it for you and free you from the harassment to which you are subjected by the existence of this type of video.
Has someone tried to harm you by posting personal videos without your consent? Tell us about your experience in the comments section.
