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Please advise what I can do if registrant doesn't reply (Abuse)

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Hello everyone,

I am not sure if this is the correct place to post this question, but I hope it is relevant.

There is a website otzyv.eu that posts reviews in Russian from other websites (they somehow download them from other sources).

I have left a review of one place (negative review) in a completly different website and later I asked to remove my name from that website and they did it for me.

However, this website otzyv.eu downloaded the review somehow with my name (I have no idea how they managed) and when I tried to contact them, they ignored each and every message that I have sent. Further to that, after I contacted them a number of times, someone started sending me emails with the offer to remove for the price of 500 Euro.

I am very concerned what I can do in this situation because I don't want to have the negative review with my name available on that website and I also cannot reach out to registrant (they ignore my messages).

The registrar which is GoDaddy, told me there is nothing what they can do for me.

What can be done in this situation?
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
As per .eu Terms of Service the registrant is obliged "To use the Domain Name in such a way that does not violate any third-party rights, applicable laws, or regulations".

Among these "applicable laws", a .eu is likely to have GDPR in mind, a violation of which seems to be the case here.

You could try reporting abuse to EURID, the .eu registry, but I couldn't find a dedicated contact form for that. Other than that, a GDRP violation complaint.
 
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@capybara thank you very much for your reply. I would like to confirm with you if what I understand is correct.

Based on the link that you have provided, it looks like I need to click (lodge a complaint with your national Data Protection Authority (DPA)) and later contact kzld cpdp email (Commission for Personal Data Protection of Bulgaria) because the website is registered in Bulgaria.

Is this a relevant statement?

 
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If you are a EU-member state citizen or resident, you need to contact the relevant DPA.

If not, GDPR still applies even to non-citizens and non-residents as long as the company in question is from EU and yes, if the registrant is in Bulgaria contacting Bulgarian authority might be the best choice.
 
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@capybara thank you. I have sent them an email where I described the situation. Hopefully they can help me with this. Thank you for your help.
 
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The registrar will do nothing. They would only interfere if you report some serious stuff like child porn or some serious nasty shit - a criminal activity found on the website, which is hosted on said registrar.

There was a rule that Google implied several years ago that it's illegal to put a person's name without their consent on unwanted info without proves - some like that, don't remember the actual deal. But I once did it - reported to google to remove some bad and very false review with my name on it, and the post was removed in like 1 day. But I honestly don't remember how I did - it was years ago. They just get the whole page (sometimes with the website) out of search engine, if website don't do it themselves.

Just try to google this info. Maybe you don't even have to report to google, just try ''friendly warn'' to otzyv.ue about such a scenario.
 
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@VadimK thank you for your reply. I have filed the complaint with Google a few minutes ago, we will see what may happen. I also reached out to the hosting provider. No one really rushes to help, but we will see what will be the outcome. I will keep you and @capybara updated. Hopefully someone will help. It is very frustrating when a website uses my name without my consent.
 
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Yes, you can report to Google first and make the website penalized, so no index in Google. I had done it before. I had a photo of my office, made by me. And someone use it without my permission, and showed in Google result in many keywords, because the photo has been processed for SEO. The problem is, the photo is used to sell my competitor products. I filled a complain to Google with proof, my ID Card, and luckily our company has advertisement with Google under my name. Google react not more than 2 days and inform me that the website has been penalized, so will not be shown in Google search result anywhere.

You can also do it with Bing, Yahoo, etc. So make sure no one see the review with your name. You can explain that the website is harmful because posting a review with your name without your permisiion, with proof of your identity (passport or ID Card showing your name, and proof that someone blackmails you for erasing your name. Google surely will penalized the website and no index at all, making sure no one seeing your review.
 
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I am not sure but I received a rejection from Google.

Hello,
Thanks for sending in your report.
We carefully reviewed your report and were able to make a determination. At this time, the URLs listed below won’t be removed from Google’s search results.

This decision is based on the requirements in our PII policy.


I am very confused why my name should not be protected.
 
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@DIFF,
I think @capybara provided the best solution, ie. contact the registry and explain your situation to them. They are very serious with privacy issues and hopefully will provide better support than Google will ever do imo.

This is their 'contact us' page:
https://eurid.eu/en/welcome-to-eurid/#nav_contact
 
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Google customer service is a joke. I was on hold for like 30 minutes and later they just 'we are too busy, goodbye', i called again in 5 minutes and 'We are closed for today'. Seriously, if it is something urgent, seems like I have a higher chance to reach out to the White House than to them. Aren't they supposed to have some team members 24/7?
 
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@Hypersot thank you. I think they are based in Belgium, hopefully they can take an action when it is morning there.
 
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Google replied:


Thank you for contacting Google Registry.

We are not responsible for the TLD of the domain listed in your issue. Please contact the correct registry.

You can find the registry for any TLD at ICANN


Does someone know what they mean by this?
 
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By 'TLD' they mean the extension of the domain. You already know the correct registry for that extension and, imo, they are correct; that is *not* an issue that involves Google.

I suggest to wait and see what happens after you contact the registry.
 
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Google replied:


Thank you for contacting Google Registry.

We are not responsible for the TLD of the domain listed in your issue. Please contact the correct registry.

You can find the registry for any TLD at ICANN


Does someone know what they mean by this?
Yes, google is not able to do with domains. That's why you should report to google a website that is harmful and appear in Google search result. That the website posting your review in other site without your permission, and blackmailed you if you want to ask to remove your name. By that you are proofing that the website might harmful for everyone.

Google only can penalized the website (and the url of the website, and will affected the domain). Google will not able to delete the domain, UDRP the domain, or even erasing the post. They only can penalized the website not to appear in search result.

Google will not react to your report unless you give them proof and your ID Card. If you didn't proof that they email you to blackmail, and no proof that the name in the link is you from ID Card, they will not take action.
 
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Given that it operates its website on .EU, you might find some useful information here: https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu/olaf-and-you/report-fraud_en .
But, given that its language is Russian, hmm... well, it seems that there is no one and nowhere that can stop them from rushing off the planet at this time.
 
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The registry eurid.eu say that they can check if the registration is okay, but they cannot do anything related to content.

I seriously don't know what to do. I have submitted the inquiry to Cloudflare because I believe they provide hosting to them. I have never imagined it would be that difficult.
 
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It's amazing how easy is to be unethical, even bordering to illegal, on the internet but at the same time, when you want to follow the rules, it's as hard as it can get.

I feel for you @DIFF . Unfortunately, I don't think any of us can help you further. It seems you might need to use a lawyer... or, if you live in Bulgaria, just report them straight to the police.
 
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@HappyW thank you, but I believe OLAF can investigate only if this activity has impact on EU institutions. I don't think they will do anything because it hurts me personally not EU.

I have sent an email to Commission for Personal Data Protection of Bulgaria. I think I read somewhere it can be literally 3 months. That's very long...

The website did respond to me yesterday with the question "What do I want" however after I explained again they never replied back. I lost the count how many times I asked them. I honestly don't understand why they cannot just hide my name...

I filed the inquiry with Cloudflare. They provide hosting or as they say "network provider". Does someone know if they can do anything?
 
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Trying to hire a hacker on a job board might solve the problem once and for all?
 
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I am telling you - tell them you'll report them to google (even through I understand you already talked to google). Many times just this alone will be enough. But write a nice, officional, non-emotional letter.

Best,
Vadim
 
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Well sounds like the site was scraped copied republished. If you pay another site will appear so you can pay again. Best chance would be alerting original site their site is copied but if you start to pay they will keep asking and it will be nothing to do with original site most likely.
 
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@VadimK and @lock yes, I have written them an email that there is Commission for Personal Data Protection of Bulgaria and even Google that guarantees our rights against such situations. I don't know what they will do.
I also wait for Cloudflare to respond if they can do anything.
 
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Oh God, thanks everyone for your help!!! They just changed the name of that comment to another name (I have no idea whose name is that) Thanks everyone who tried to help me. Thank you all!!!
 
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