A Straightforward Process, Not a Sales Pitch
Most people who land on this page are dealing with something upsetting: a fake review, a social media pile-on, an ex who won't let go, an anonymous post that's showing up when someone searches their name. The instinct is to panic, or to start firing off angry messages to the poster or the platform. Neither one usually helps, and the second one can actually make things worse if it tips off the poster to take the content down before you've documented it.
What actually helps is working through four steps in order: figuring out whether what you're looking at is legally significant, preserving it properly before it disappears, pursuing the removal or suppression options that are realistically available, and then putting basic safeguards in place so it's harder for this to happen again. That's the process this entire site is organized around.
Recognize It
Understand whether what you're seeing legally qualifies as defamation, or is protected opinion, and where it fits among common situations.
2Document It
Preserve screenshots, URLs, timestamps, and a timeline before the content is edited, deleted, or made inaccessible.
3Remove or Suppress It
Pursue platform removal, search suppression, and, where appropriate, formal legal steps.
4Prevent It
Put ongoing monitoring and basic protective habits in place so it's harder for this to happen again.
Where to Start
Depending on where you are in the process, one of these five areas is probably the most useful place to dig in next.
Individuals, Businesses, and Their Attorneys
Individuals
People dealing with a defamatory post, a fake profile, a coordinated harassment campaign, or content from a former partner or associate that's affecting their reputation, their job search, or their peace of mind.
Businesses
Small and mid-sized businesses dealing with fake or coordinated negative reviews, defamatory social media posts about the company, or a former employee or competitor posting false claims that show up when customers search the business name.
Both groups usually need the same first steps — recognize, document, remove or suppress, prevent — even though the specific content and platforms involved look different.
Also: Expert Witness Services
Some online defamation matters end up in litigation, whether that's a lawsuit against an identified poster, a John Doe action against an anonymous one, or a dispute where online content is part of a larger business or employment case. In those situations, I also work with attorneys as an expert witness on the technical side of the matter — evidence authentication, platform behavior, and damages analysis.
Who's Behind This Site
I'm Bill Hartzer, founder of Hartzer Consulting and DNAccess. For more than 25 years I've worked with individuals, small businesses, and large organizations on search engines, online reputation, and internet investigations — which is exactly the background needed to actually do something about content that's hurting someone's reputation online, rather than just explaining why it's unfair.