How to Remove Defamatory Content from Bing

Oftentimes, the most damaging aspect of unwanted Internet content is that it appears on search engines such as Google and Bing. While Google dominates the global search market, harmful content appearing on any search engine can significantly damage your reputation. Bing powers multiple search platforms, including Yahoo search and parts of DuckDuckGo’s results, making it an important consideration in any comprehensive content removal strategy.

If defamatory or damaging content about you exists online, removing it from Bing’s search results is crucial. Every situation requires a tailored approach – sometimes a simple report works, while other cases may require persistent follow-up or even legal action.

Effective Steps to Remove Defamatory Content From Bing

Being targeted by online defamation can seriously damage your reputation. Negative content can harm your business, career prospects, and personal relationships, making prompt action essential when harmful material appears in search results.

Request Removal From the Source

The most straightforward approach is convincing the content publisher to delete the unwanted material. For example, if your business received a negative review, tactful customer service might resolve concerns. If a news outlet misunderstood facts, a respectful correction request might lead to content modification.

Exercise caution when making such requests to avoid provoking the publisher or amplifying the problem (the Streisand Effect). Remember that Section 230 protects platforms displaying user-generated content, so threatening legal action against these platforms can backfire.

Report Policy Violations to Bing

Bing’s policies prohibit content that defames, harasses, threatens others, or contains inappropriate material or unauthorized intellectual property. If harmful content violates these policies, report it through Bing’s reporting form.

The reporting form covers offensive material, malicious pages, private information, court-ordered takedowns, broken links, intellectual property violations, and child exploitation material. You can also access Bing’s main reporting portal for various issues.

Use Specialized Reporting Tools

Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery Form

Unauthorized explicit images violate Bing’s policies. Report such content through Bing’s specialized form. If approved, Bing will remove these results from all Microsoft services, though the content remains on source websites until addressed separately.

Content Removal Tool for Outdated Results

Even after content removal from its source, it may persist in Bing’s search results until the page is re-crawled. Bing’s webmaster tool helps report broken links (404 errors) and outdated content appearing in search results.

Consider Website Acquisition

In some cases, you might acquire control over the website hosting the problematic content. If you purchase the domain, you gain editorial control over its content. Alternatively, you might obtain copyright for the unwanted content, enabling you to report copyright violations.

Bing’s Response Time and Process

Typical Response Timeframes

While Bing claims to act on valid removal requests within 24 hours, actual response times are typically much longer. Copyright violations, revenge porn, and child exploitation material generally receive faster attention than other content types.

Attempting removals from shaming websites without professional assistance can lead to additional expenses due to their profit-driven models. These sites often demand payment for content removal.

Bing vs. Google Removal Processes

Bing removal requests often require more persistence than Google, even with court orders. While Google typically responds within days, Bing may take 30 days or leave requests unanswered, necessitating follow-up.

Bing’s removal tools are more limited than Google’s. For example, Google offers a tool for removing content from exploitative websites, while Bing lacks this feature.

Bing has historically been more resistant to implementing court orders than Google. Successful court orders for Bing must be extremely narrow and specific to have the best chance of implementation.

Legal Options for Content Removal

If self-help options prove unsuccessful, consider these legal approaches:

DMCA Takedown Notices

If you own content that’s been published without authorization, a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown notice may help secure its removal. These notices legally demand removal of copyright-infringing content from websites, search engines, or web hosts.

While effective, incorrectly written notices can cause harm, so consult an experienced attorney before proceeding. False copyright claims can lead to legal consequences, including potential liability for damages.

Litigation and Court Orders

While you generally cannot sue search engines directly, you may sue the individual who published the harmful content. Beyond removal, if the content contains defamatory statements, you might recover damages for harm suffered.

Court orders may also prevent publishers from repeating content determined to be false and defamatory. When crafting a court order intended for implementation by search engines, specificity is crucial.

In some jurisdictions, you may be able to file against “John Doe” defendants if the publisher’s identity is unknown, potentially using discovery procedures to uncover their identity.

Content Suppression Strategies

When immediate removal isn’t possible, content suppression offers an alternative strategy. This technique involves creating positive, high-ranking content to push negative results lower in search listings.

Effective Suppression Tactics

Creating positive blog and social media content helps establish a stronger online presence. Monitoring and responding to business reviews demonstrates engagement and responsibility.

Optimizing social media privacy settings and claiming all online profiles ensures you maintain control over your digital footprint. When suppression efforts succeed, most people never see the negative content because it’s buried deep in search results.

Timing Considerations

While “the Internet is forever” isn’t entirely accurate, the longer you wait to address unwanted content, the more difficult management becomes. Best practices include monitoring your online presence and acting quickly when harmful posts appear.

Remember that removing content from search results doesn’t erase it from the Internet entirely, but it significantly reduces its visibility and impact.

How Minc Law Can Help You Remove Harmful Content

If you’re struggling with defamatory or harmful content on Bing, don’t wait for the situation to worsen. The longer negative content remains online, the more damage it can cause to your reputation and wellbeing.

Contact Minc Law today for a confidential case evaluation. Our experienced internet attorneys will evaluate your situation and recommend the most effective path forward. Call us at (216) 373-7706, speak with a Chat Representative, or fill out our contact form to get started.