removing_information.html.erb

<% @title = 'Removing Information' %>
<%= render partial: 'sidebar' %>

<div id="left_column_flip" class="left_column_flip">
  <h1 id="title">
    <%= @title %>
    <%= link_to '#', '#title' %>
  </h1>

  <p>
    If you would like to ask for information to be removed from WhatDoTheyKnow,
    please read this page first.
  </p>

  <p>
    WhatDoTheyKnow is a permanent, public archive of Freedom of Information
    requests. We do not usually remove information unless we are required to by
    law, it breaches our house rules, or there is a risk to the safety of our
    users or others.
  </p>

  <p>
    We consider all requests to remove information on a case-by-case basis. We
    are committed to acting in the public interest when making decisions related
    to the archive. In addition, we will sometimes remove information on
    compassionate grounds.
  </p>

  <h2 id="inappropriate">
    Inappropriate content
    <%= link_to '#', '#inappropriate' %>
  </h2>

  <p>We are keen to act quickly to remove problematic material that shouldn’t
  be on the site. This would include:
  </p>

  <ul>
    <li>Requests for a user’s own personal information (sometimes called ‘subject
    access requests’).</li>
    <li>Personal correspondence not related to freedom of information requests.</li>
    <li>Material that is offensive or abusive.</li>
    <li>Material that is threatening or that may form part of a pattern of
    harassment.</li>
    <li>Material that unfairly damages the reputation of a person, a business, or
    an organisation (sometimes called defamatory or libellous material).</li>
    <li><%= link_to 'As defined in the Online Safety Act (2023)', '#illegal' %>,
    material that is terrorism content, Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA) 
    content, and other priority illegal content.</li>
    <li>Material more widely that it is against the law to publish.</li>
    <li>Any other material that would breach our House Rules.</li>
  </ul>

  <p>You can find a link to report a request on every request page.</p>

  <h2 id="all">
    For all users of WhatDoTheyKnow
    <%= link_to '#', '#all' %>
  </h2>

  <h3 id="illegal">
    I would like to report the presence of illegal content that should
    be removed
    <%= link_to '#', '#illegal' %>
  </h3>

  <p>
    We do not tolerate the publication of illegal material on the site, in particular
    that which falls under the scope of the 
    <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50/contents">
    Online Safety Act (2023)</a>.
    This includes terrorism content, <abbr title="Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse">CSEA</abbr> 
    content, and other forms of priority illegal content as defined in the act.
  </p>
  <p>
    We have assessed that the risk of the majority of this type of content is
    low across the site, but see below for specific notes on abusive or threatening content.
    Requests made through this site are sent to public bodies and as such are unlikely
    to contain this sort of material and can be quickly flagged if they do. Should we identify
    areas where there may be a risk of this sort of content, such as unused user profiles, we
    take steps to minimise the risk of these being viewed.
  </p>
  <h4 id="illegal_removal">
    What to do if you've become aware of this content
  </h4>
  <p>
    If you come across any material of this nature, please
    <%= link_to 'contact us', help_contact_path %> and we will assess and remove any
    content. To enable us to assist you as quickly as possible, please include
    a link to the message or document where it appears on WhatDoTheyKnow or the
    unique email address that is associated with the request so that we can act quickly
    to hide the content while it is assessed.
  </p>
  <p>
    If you think that we have removed content in error, you can let us know as well. See
    our <%= link_to 'complaints procedure here', help_complaints_path %>.
  </p>

  <h3 id="abusive">
    I would like to remove a message that is abusive, threatening or
    inappropriate
    <%= link_to '#', '#abusive' %>
  </h3>

  <p>We do not allow users to send messages that are unlawful, harassing,
  abusive, threatening, harmful, obscene, discriminatory, profane, defamatory or
  potentially defamatory. If you have received a message of this nature, please
  <%= link_to 'contact us', help_contact_path %>.
  To enable us to assist you as quickly as possible, please include
  a link to the message or document where it appears on WhatDoTheyKnow or the
  unique email address that is associated with the request. Please see our House
  Rules for more information about what we expect from our users.</p>

  <h2 id="officers">
    For FOI Officers and other employees of public authorities
    <%= link_to '#', '#officers' %>
  </h2>


  <h3 id="data_breach">
    There has been a data breach, and I would like to remove personal
    information that has been released in error
    <%= link_to '#', '#data_breach' %>
  </h3>

  <p>Please use our <%= link_to 'dedicated form', help_report_a_data_breach_path %>
  to report a data breach. To enable us to act as quickly as possible, please
  include a link to the request, or the @whatdotheyknow.com email address that
  you sent your response to. If the accidentally released information was included
  in an attachment, please state this.
  </p>

  <h3 id="officer_pii">
    I would like my own personal information to be removed from requests and
    responses
    <%= link_to '#', '#officer_pii' %>
  </h3>

  <p>If you work for a public authority, and need to remove your personal
  details from responses that you’ve issued, please refer to our <%= link_to 'Privacy Notice', help_privacy_path %>.
  </p>

  <h3 id="vexatious">
    We have received a vexatious request
    <%= link_to '#', '#vexatious' %>
  </h3>

  <p>We remove vexatious requests from our site when they are brought to our
  attention. We consider that vexatious request is one that has no serious
  purpose, or is intended to be disruptive to the work of a public authority. In
  deciding whether a request is vexatious, we take into account the ICO’s
  guidance on vexatious requests. We will not treat a request as vexatious
  simply because the public authority has concluded that the request is
  vexatious.</p>

  <h3 id="old">
    I would like to update or remove an old or inaccurate FOI response
    <%= link_to '#', '#old' %>
  </h3>

  <p>As a permanent public archive of Freedom of Information requests and
  responses, we never remove material from the site just because it is old or
  because a newer version of the material exists.</p>

  <h3 id="change_of_mind">
    We have changed our mind about information released in the past
    <%= link_to '#', '#change_of_mind' %>
  </h3>

  <p>If you have released information which you now believe should have been
  withheld using one of the exemptions or exceptions within access to information
  law, please let us know. We will consider requests to remove information on a
  case-by-case basis. We will not usually remove information in this situation
  unless it is problematic.</p>

  <h2 id="users">
    For WhatDoTheyKnow Users
    <%= link_to '#', '#users' %>
  </h2>

  <h3 id="user_pii">
    I would like my own personal information to be removed from requests and
    responses
    <%= link_to '#', '#user_pii' %>
  </h3>

  <p>
    We’re happy to consider your request, just contact us using
    <%= link_to 'our contact form', help_contact_path %>. For more information
    about how we handle these types of requests, along with an explanation of
    your rights, please see our <%= link_to 'Privacy Notice', help_privacy_path %>.
  </p>

  <h3 id="username">
    I would like to change my username
    <%= link_to '#', '#username' %>
  </h3>

  <p>You can change your username by following the “Change your name” link from
  your user profile page. If you change your name, the name on your old requests
  won't change. When you send a request, we use the name you gave us. This makes
  it hard to stop your old and new names from being connected. This means your
  old name will still show up on requests that you've already sent and on your
  public profile page.
  </p>

  <p>If you don't want your new name to be linked to your old one, it's a good
  idea to make a new account instead.
  </p>

  <h3 id="remove_request">
    I would like to remove a request that I have made
    <%= link_to '#', '#remove_request' %>
  </h3>

  <p>We don’t remove substantive FOI requests and responses other than in
  exceptional circumstances. This is because the information may be useful to
  others. We will however, consider requests to remove your name. For more
  information about how we handle these types of requests, along with an
  explanation of your rights, please see our
  <%= link_to 'Privacy Notice', help_privacy_path %>.</p>

  <p>We don’t consider anonymised requests and responses to be users’ personal
  information which they have a right to have removed from our service on
  request.</p>

  <h2 id="everyone_else">
    For everyone else
    <%= link_to '#', '#everyone_else' %>
  </h2>

  <h3 id="other_pii">
    I would like my own personal information to be removed from requests and
    responses
    <%= link_to '#', '#other_pii' %>
  </h3>

  <p>If your personal information has been published as part of a request or
    response to a request, please refer to our
    <%= link_to 'Privacy Notice', help_privacy_path %>.
  </p>

  <h3 id="compassionate_grounds">
    I would like information about someone who has died to be removed from
    requests and responses
    <%= link_to '#', '#compassionate_grounds' %>
  </h3>

  <p>
    If you would like to request the removal of information about someone who
    has died, please <%= link_to 'contact our support team', help_contact_path %>.
    All requests to remove information in these circumstances will be treated
    sensitively and on a case-by-case basis.
  </p>

  <p>Where information requests relate to individuals who have died, we have a
  presumption towards removing material on compassionate grounds where the
  request was made by a family member or friend who may not have fully considered
  the potential consequences of using our service.</p>

  <h3 id="copyright">
    I would like you to remove information that breaches my copyright
    <%= link_to '#', '#copyright' %>
  </h3>

  <p>While many responses are accompanied by a notice saying that the material
  provided is protected by copyright, we only consider taking content down
  following contact from someone raising specific concerns. If you believe that
  material we are publishing infringes your copyright, please
  <%= link_to 'contact us', help_contact_path %>.</p>

  <p>We believe that it is legitimate to request copyrighted material under
  access to information laws. Access to information laws are “applicant blind”,
  so anyone in the world can request the same document and get a copy of it. We
  want to save public money by preventing duplicate requests.</p>

  <h3 id"commercial">
    I would like you to remove commercially sensitive information
    <%= link_to '#', '#commercial' %>
  </h3>

  <p>If you would like us to remove information that is commercially sensitive
  please <%= link_to 'let us know', help_contact_path %>. We would normally only
  remove such information where we are legally required to do so.
  </p>

  <%= render partial: 'history' %>
</div>