How to remove a fake viral article from the internet

• How to remove false stories and fake news online
• Defamation at school
• Legal advice for newspaper defamation

What can you do if a fake online article damages your reputation and involves your family

Imagine discovering a story about yourself and your son on the internet that is entirely fabricated. The article uses your real photos, and suggests you are putting your son in danger. Worse still, it spreads quickly across multiple websites and social media platforms, fuelling hateful comments and reputational damage.

Why fake stories online can still be defamatory

The reputational impact of defamation on a child 

What steps can be taken to remove a false online article 

Why children’s involvement in defamation cases makes cases more serious

Lawyers’ thoughts on the case

Why fake stories online can still be defamatory

This was the reality faced by one of our clients. A viral article claimed he had allowed his young son to share a bed with a large snake, with a fabricated “expert” warning that the snake was preparing to eat him. None of this was true. Yet, the story used his name, photographs and details taken from his own social media, creating a damaging narrative that strangers believed.

A common misconception is that if a story is “clearly a myth” or “intended as entertainment,” it cannot be legally challenged. In fact, English defamation law makes clear that any false statement which lowers someone in the eyes of right-thinking members of society may be defamatory.

In this case, the articles implied that the father was reckless and irresponsible, portraying him as endangering his son. Readers who came across the defamatory online article had no reason to assume it was fictional, especially since it was published in a news-style format alongside real photographs.

This combination of false narrative with real imagery makes the harm particularly severe. Legally, the article was not only defamatory, but also amounted to:

Misuse of private information

This happens when personal details or images are used without consent. Even if photos are publicly shared, reusing them in a false and harmful story is a legal breach.

Data protection breaches

The law protects personal data, such as names, photos and other identifying information. Linking those details to a damaging false story can amount to unlawful processing of data.

Copyright infringement 

If you own the rights to photos or videos you post, others cannot legally copy and use them without permission. In this case, stills from social media were repurposed in the articles without consent.

The reputational impact of defamation on a child 

For the client, the damage was grave. He described feeling powerless and anxious, especially after discovering hateful online comments where strangers accused him of neglect and even suggested he should be investigated by authorities.

The situation was particularly distressing because it involved his son, a minor, whose image and identity had been exploited. As a father and professional, he also feared for his son’s safety and reputation.

This highlights a key point: online defamation is not just about reputation in the workplace, it can spill into real-world harassment, public shaming, and damage to family life.

What steps can be taken to remove a false online article 

In response to the client’s case, our legal team took immediate steps to reduce harm.

We first preserved copies of the articles and social media posts to ensure that evidence would be available if litigation became necessary. We then investigated the origin of the story, which appeared first on one website before spreading to others.

Formal letters of claim were issued, citing defamation, privacy and copyright infringement. At the same time, we pursued takedown requests with search engines and hosting providers.

Most websites complied and removed the content. Google delisted the offending URLs, reducing visibility. One archive site resisted removal, but overall, the spread and searchability of the story were dramatically reduced.

Why children’s involvement in defamation cases makes cases more serious

When defamatory or false online content involves children, the law gives additional weight to privacy and welfare considerations. The courts recognise that minors cannot consent to their images being used, and that false associations with harmful narratives can have lasting consequences for them.

This often strengthens the legal case for removal of the false article, and gives parents additional grounds to demand urgent takedown.

Lawyers’ thoughts on the case

This case illustrates the dangers of fabricated online content when real people’s names and images are attached to it. What might look like clickbait entertainment can amount to serious defamation and misuse of personal data.

We are proud that by acting quickly, we were able to remove the worst of the online content and restore peace of mind for our client and his family. Importantly, this case also underlines the need for parents and professionals to act fast when false stories emerge online. Evidence should be preserved, legal rights asserted, and multiple legal tools like defamation, copyright, privacy and data protection, should be used together for maximum impact.