Remove News Articles – Expert Assessment
Remove News Articles from Google – Free Expert Assessment
An old newspaper article is following you online. You know the one – the story that still sits on page one of Google every time someone searches your name, years or even decades after the events it describes. It might be a court report, a story about a dispute you resolved long ago, a piece about something deeply personal, or coverage that was never entirely fair or accurate in the first place. Whatever the article, it is doing real damage: to your career, your relationships, your mental health, and your ability to move forward. We are Cohen Davis Solicitors, and removing news articles from Google is the work we have dedicated the last 25 years to.
We have removed content from The Sun, the Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, the BBC, ITV, Sky News, local Reach and Newsquest titles, trade and professional publications, and online-only news sites. These are not the easy cases. National titles and broadcasters have legal teams who know how to resist removal requests. That is exactly why you need solicitors who have been doing this for over 25 years and who know which arguments open doors that others have found firmly shut.
The human cost of one old article dominating your Google results is enormous. We have seen it destroy careers, end relationships, and cause years of anxiety. That is why we fight so hard to remove them.
The free Expert Assessment gives you a direct conversation with a qualified internet law solicitor who will review the specific articles you want removed, apply the legal tests under UK GDPR and current case law, and tell you honestly what can be achieved and how. No sales pitch. No obligation. Just a clear, expert answer.
Find out if your news article can be removed from Google
Request your free assessmentOr call free: 0800 612 7211
What we have achieved – removing news articles from Google
Real results from real cases, including some of the most resistant publications in the UK and internationally.
- 1,017 pages removed from Google in a single case, including news articles that had resisted earlier approaches (client: Chris)
- 579 pages removed from Google for a California-based client, including press coverage indexed across multiple publications (client: HZ)
- 28 pages removed after an ICO case won against Google – the ICO accepted “most if not all of the very cogent arguments we put forward” – many of which related to news articles (client: Diego)
- Successful delisting and removal from The Sun, Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, the BBC, ITV, Sky News, local Reach and Newsquest titles, trade press and online-only publications
- News articles removed for clients in the UK, United States, Canada, Australia, and across the EU
- Law Society Excellence Awards – 2016 Winner, 2019 Shortlisted
The UK’s specialist in removing news articles from Google
We are Cohen Davis Solicitors, trading as the Internet Law Centre – the first dedicated internet law firm in the UK. Our team is led by Yair Cohen, an internet law specialist with over 25 years’ experience in content removal, data protection, defamation, and online reputation. We are not a reputation management company. We are a regulated law firm, and that makes a decisive difference when you are trying to remove a news article from one of the UK’s most powerful publishers.
News articles are among the hardest content to remove from Google. National newspapers have legal teams whose job is to resist take-down requests on public interest grounds. Broadcasters cite editorial independence. Local papers often simply do not respond. After 25 years, we know the people on the other side – the in-house solicitors at the major titles, the editors who make decisions on removal requests, and the specific arguments that get traction. That knowledge shortens cases and opens doors that others find closed.
We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. That means legal professional privilege from your first contact, a formal duty of care, and the tools to escalate – to the ICO, directly to Google’s legal team, and into court – when that is the right step.
★★★★★
“Your assistance and guidance is far beyond the value of any fees paid.”
Chris – 1,017 pages removed from Google
★★★★★
“I am absolutely delighted about the outcome of my right to be forgotten application. This exercise requires considerable expertise and I am totally pleased with the outcome.”
Right to be forgotten client
What types of news articles can be removed from Google?
Over 25 years we have secured removals or Google delistings across virtually every category of news and press content. The type of article, the nature of the publication, and the subject matter all affect the legal route – but in most cases there is a route. Here is what we handle regularly.
National newspapers and broadcasters
Articles published by The Sun, the Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Express, The Independent, the Evening Standard, and Metro can all be delisted from Google under the right circumstances. The same applies to online news content from the BBC, ITV, Sky News, and Channel 4. We have successfully pursued removals against all of these publications. The public interest argument they rely on does not automatically prevail – particularly where the original story is years or decades old and the events it describes are no longer of current relevance.
Local newspapers and regional titles
Local newspaper articles are among the most damaging for individuals – a court report or community news piece that would once have been forgotten within weeks now sits permanently in Google results. Reach plc titles (the Manchester Evening News, Birmingham Mail, Liverpool Echo, and hundreds of others) and Newsquest titles are among those we approach regularly. Local articles about criminal proceedings, neighbourhood disputes, licensing hearings, and personal matters are all content types we have handled and removed.
Court reporting and legal proceedings coverage
Articles reporting on criminal cases, civil proceedings, tribunals, disciplinary hearings, and licensing matters are some of the most significant categories for removal. Where the proceedings resulted in an acquittal, where charges were discontinued, where a conviction is now spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, or where the coverage was selective or misleading, the legal arguments for delisting are often strong. We have built extensive case history in this area.
Trade press and professional journals
Articles in trade publications, professional journals, and sector-specific media about business disputes, professional discipline, regulatory matters, or employment cases can follow individuals for years. The audience for these publications is often precisely the professional community the individual relies on – making removal particularly urgent. We handle trade press removal cases regularly.
Other article types we remove from Google
- Articles about criminal proceedings – charges, trials, convictions, acquittals, and appeals
- Business dispute coverage – company failures, director conduct, commercial litigation
- Personal matters – divorce proceedings, family disputes, personal financial difficulties
- Professional discipline – MPTS hearings, SDT rulings, regulatory investigations, fitness to practise
- Old lifestyle and personal content – historical interviews, profiles, personal pieces that no longer reflect who you are
- Broadcast transcripts – indexed content from television and radio programmes
- Press releases – old organisational press releases that no longer reflect current reality
- Online-only publications – digital-native news sites, news aggregators, syndicated content
- Overseas news articles – US, Australian, European, and other international press indexing in UK Google
If the article you want removed is not on this list, describe it in the assessment form. If there is a legal route, we will find it.
Who comes to us to remove news articles from Google?
Every case is different, but the situations below represent the most common scenarios we deal with – and where our track record is strongest. If your situation matches one of these, the chances are we have handled multiple cases like yours before.
An old court report still ranks on page one
A court report from a criminal, civil, or tribunal hearing continues to appear prominently in Google results years after the matter concluded. Perhaps you were convicted but have since served your sentence and rebuilt your life. Perhaps charges were dropped or you were found not guilty and the report never captured that outcome. Court reporting is one of our strongest areas – we know which arguments succeed and which routes to pursue first.
A national newspaper article about a dispute you settled years ago
A national title covered a business dispute, a civil claim, or a personal matter at the time. The matter has long since been resolved – but the article lives on in Google and continues to colour how potential clients, employers, or partners see you. We have successfully approached national newspaper legal teams on exactly this basis. The passage of time and the resolution of the underlying dispute are both relevant to the legal arguments for removal.
A local paper article that follows you to a new area
A local newspaper article that was once read only by people in your neighbourhood now travels with you wherever you go. When you move to a new area, join a new community, or start a new job, a Google search still surfaces the old story. Local articles – particularly from Reach and Newsquest titles – are among the cases we handle most frequently, with a strong track record of securing delistings and source removals.
A BBC or ITV article about an incident that is no longer relevant
Broadcast content from the BBC, ITV, Sky News, or Channel 4 that is indexed online continues to appear in Google results long after it has ceased to be of any public interest. Broadcasters resist removal requests as a matter of course, citing editorial independence. As solicitors, we can apply legal pressure that a removal company or an individual simply cannot. We have successfully pursued BBC and broadcaster content removal on multiple occasions.
A news article about someone else that names you
The article was not about you – it was about a business, an organisation, a public figure, or an event. But your name appears in it, and now it ranks prominently when someone searches for you. You had little or no say in the original coverage. Where the naming is incidental to the main story and continued indexing under your name serves no legitimate public interest, there are strong legal arguments for delisting the article from results linked to your name.
Press coverage of a criminal case where you were acquitted
The article covered a criminal charge or prosecution. You were found not guilty, or the charges were dropped before trial – but that outcome was never covered, or was covered far less prominently than the original allegation. The continued prominence of the charge article in Google results despite your acquittal is exactly the kind of disproportionate and misleading processing the right to be forgotten was designed to address. These cases frequently succeed.
Trade press or professional journal content from a past dispute
An article in a trade publication, professional journal, or sector-specific outlet covered a dispute, a disciplinary matter, or a regulatory case involving you. The audience for this content is precisely the professional community you work in. The article may be years old and the matter long resolved – but it continues to appear when colleagues, clients, or regulators search your name online. We handle trade press removal regularly.
An article from overseas news sites appearing in UK Google
The content is on a US news site, an Australian publication, an EU outlet, or another international source – but it appears prominently in UK Google results. Cross-border cases are a regular part of our work. UK GDPR applies to what appears in UK-facing search results regardless of where the content is hosted, and we also pursue direct removal from international publishers where that is the more effective route.
Why we succeed in removing news articles where others have given up
News article removal is the hardest category of content to remove from Google. National titles cite press freedom. Broadcasters cite editorial independence. The ICO weighs public interest carefully. And Google often defaults to refusing removal requests for news content on public interest grounds. This is exactly the environment in which 25 years of specialist experience makes the decisive difference.
We know the publishers’ legal teams
We know the in-house solicitors and editorial legal teams at the major national titles. When a letter from Cohen Davis arrives, it is read by someone who knows our track record – and who knows that we will escalate if we need to. A cold take-down request from an unknown firm or an individual will almost always be refused on public interest grounds. A targeted, legally precise letter from a firm with a 25-year relationship with these publishers operates in a different register entirely.
We understand the public interest test in depth
The public interest argument is the main defence publishers use to resist removal requests. We understand it in depth – both from the UK GDPR case law and from years of arguing these cases before the ICO and the courts. We know when the public interest argument holds weight and when it does not, and we construct our submissions accordingly. Many articles that look like they cannot be removed can be, once the right argument is properly framed.
We have won ICO cases involving news articles
The ICO has the power to compel publishers and Google to remove or delist content. We have won ICO cases involving news articles, including cases where Google had already refused. The ICO accepted “most if not all of the very cogent arguments we put forward” in one such case (client: Diego, 28 pages removed). The ICO is a route that many firms do not pursue effectively – because they have not done it often enough to know how.
We pursue delisting and source removal simultaneously
Most removal companies focus on one route. We pursue both in parallel where appropriate: source removal from the publisher’s website, and Google delisting under UK GDPR. Even where source removal is refused, Google delisting removes the article from search results. Even where delisting takes time, source removal can break the indexing chain. Two simultaneous routes to the same outcome is better than one.
The article that looks impossible to remove has often simply not been approached from the right angle yet.
Your news article may be removable – find out for free
Request your free assessmentWhy a solicitor, not a content removal company, to remove news articles
| Internet law solicitor | Content removal company | |
|---|---|---|
| SRA regulated | Yes | No |
| Legal professional privilege | Yes | No |
| Can argue before the ICO with legal authority | Yes | No |
| Can issue court proceedings against publishers | Yes | No |
| Direct relationships with national newspaper legal teams | Yes | No |
| Can credibly threaten defamation or data protection proceedings | Yes | No |
| Strategic advice on the right route for your specific article | Yes | No |
| Experience with complex, multi-publication cases | Yes | Limited |
| Fixed fees quoted in writing before work starts | Yes | Varies |
A removal company can send a take-down request to a newspaper. It will almost certainly be refused. A solicitor can send a letter that carries genuine legal weight, backed by 25 years of relationships with the people reading it. The outcome is different.
Precision matters when approaching news publishers
News article removal is not about sending a standard RTBF form. It is about reading the specific article, understanding the publication, the jurisdiction, and the commercial and legal pressures on the other side, and choosing the precise argument most likely to succeed with this publisher, at this moment. That is what 25 years of specialist experience gives you. Not just the law – but the judgement to know which argument to put, to which person, in which way.
★★★★★
“Giving my family, in particular my sons, a more stress free normal life… you have given us our lives back.”
Eric – 3 pages removed
★★★★★
“Cohen Davis were exceptionally professional and swift with my case. It was reassuring that they have the experience and knowledge to help me, especially when I live in New York.”
Ms J.J – New York, United States
Frequently asked questions about removing news articles from Google
Can you remove a news article from Google?
Yes, in many cases. News articles can be delisted from Google’s search results under the right to be forgotten provisions of UK GDPR, and in some cases the original content can also be removed from the publisher’s website. The strength of the argument depends on the age of the article, the nature of its content, the publication involved, and whether continued indexing of the article under your name serves a legitimate and proportionate public interest. Our free Expert Assessment will tell you honestly whether your specific articles can be removed and by which route.
Do newspapers have to agree to remove articles?
No. We can pursue removal of a news article from Google search results independently of whether the newspaper agrees to remove it from its own website. Google can delist the article under UK GDPR even if the publisher refuses to take it down. We can also apply to the ICO, which has the power to compel compliance. And where the content is defamatory or otherwise unlawful, court proceedings against the publisher remain an option. The newspaper’s refusal is rarely the end of the road.
What if the article is factually correct but outdated?
This is one of the most important points about the right to be forgotten: the article does not need to be inaccurate to be removed. Under UK GDPR, the question is whether its continued processing – its continued appearance in search results – is proportionate and justified in the current context. An article that was accurate and relevant when published ten years ago may no longer be relevant now, and its continued prominence may cause disproportionate harm. Many of our most successful cases involve factually accurate but outdated articles.
Can you remove a BBC or national newspaper article?
Yes. We have successfully pursued removal and delisting involving the BBC, ITV, Sky News, The Sun, the Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Express, The Independent, the Evening Standard, and many more. National titles and broadcasters have strong legal teams and will resist requests that do not carry legal weight. That is exactly why having specialist solicitors with direct relationships with those teams – and the ability to escalate – makes such a difference.
What if the article was about someone else and just named me?
If you are named incidentally in an article that is primarily about someone or something else, there are still grounds for removal – particularly if continued indexing of the article under your name serves no legitimate public interest. The legal test is not whether the article was about you, but whether its current prominence in results linked to your name is justified. We handle these cases regularly and can assess the strength of the argument at the free Expert Assessment.
The article is about a criminal case – can it still be removed?
Yes, in many cases. Where the conviction is spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, where the case resulted in an acquittal, where charges were discontinued, or where the article presents only part of the story (the charge but not the acquittal, for example), the legal arguments for removal are often strong. Criminal case articles are one of the most significant categories we handle – and one of the most important, given the impact on employment and personal life.
Can old online-only articles be delisted?
Yes. Articles on digital-native publications, news aggregators, and archived online-only sites are subject to the same UK GDPR framework as articles from established print titles. In some cases online-only publications are more receptive to take-down requests than national titles – and in other cases they are more resistant. We assess each case individually and pursue the most effective route for your specific article and publication.
Is delisting the same as deletion?
No. Delisting removes the article from appearing in Google search results – the article itself remains on the publisher’s website but can no longer be found via Google. Deletion removes the article from the publisher’s website entirely. Where possible, we pursue both in parallel: delisting from Google under UK GDPR, and source removal from the publisher where achievable. For most clients, delisting from Google delivers the practical outcome they need – the article is no longer findable by the people searching their name.
What happens in the free Expert Assessment?
A qualified internet law solicitor calls you. You share the URLs of the news articles you want removed and explain the background. The solicitor assesses the legal basis for removal, identifies the strongest route (Google RTBF, ICO, publisher direct, court), and gives you an honest view of the likely outcome. The call takes approximately 15 minutes. Within 48 hours you receive a written case review and a fixed-fee quote. No obligation. No pressure.
How much does it cost to remove a news article from Google?
Standard cases start from £1,000 + VAT, with a fixed fee quoted in writing before any work begins. Complex cases – multiple articles, resistant national publishers, ICO escalation, or court proceedings – start from £5,000 + VAT. The Expert Assessment itself is completely free.
What if you tell me you cannot help?
We tell you honestly. One of our clients noted: “Refreshingly – for a lawyer – Yair Cohen advised me not to hire him in this instance as it would not be a good investment.” If the article cannot be removed or the prospects are too uncertain to justify the cost, we say so at the assessment stage. That is the kind of firm we are.
What our clients say
Verified client reviews from Cohen Davis Solicitors
★★★★★
“Your assistance and guidance is far beyond the value of any fees paid.”
Chris – 1,017 pages removed from Google
★★★★★
“1000 thank yous for removing the pages. It took a while but we finally got it off…”
HZ – 579 pages removed, California
★★★★★
The ICO accepted “most if not all of the very cogent arguments” we put forward.
Diego – 28 pages removed, ICO case won
★★★★★
“Giving my family, in particular my sons, a more stress free normal life… you have given us our lives back.”
Eric – 3 pages removed
★★★★★
“Excellent solicitors, very professional and delivered wonderful results.”
Martin – 13 pages removed
★★★★★
“Excellent, professional service delivered within a tight timeline. Have used twice and will use again.”
Thomas – 4 pages, repeat client
★★★★★
“I hope never to need their services again but I would recommend them without hesitation.”
Edwin – New York, 2 pages
★★★★★
“Cohen Davis were exceptionally professional and swift with my case. It was reassuring that they have the experience and knowledge to help me, especially when I live in New York.”
Ms J.J – New York, United States
★★★★★
“My future happiness depended on the work of this company and they more than delivered. I quite simply cannot recommend enough.”
Mr B.G – Nottingham
★★★★★
“I have found your fantastic team of internet lawyers incredibly helpful, robust and hugely knowledgeable. You are certainly a safe pair of hands to be in during difficult times.”
David Baum
★★★★★
“Your team and professional services are excellent and I actually really enjoyed my conversation with the solicitor.”
Mrs S.L
★★★★★
“I am absolutely delighted about the outcome of my right to be forgotten application. This exercise requires considerable expertise and I am totally pleased with the outcome.”
Right to be forgotten client
★★★★★
“The result has been fantastic and the best I could have hoped for. I was very distressed by the situation I found myself in and Cohen Davis were brilliant.”
Dr B.Y – Bradford
★★★★★
“I have been very pleased with the services provided by Cohen Davis. Their team have acted very professionally and the outcome has been very satisfactory.”
Mr E.P – Jersey, Channel Islands
★★★★★
“Thank you Yair for an excellent service. Your attention to detail and approachable staff are an asset to the firm.”
Elliot Crego
How it works – three steps
Free 15-minute Expert Assessment
A qualified internet law solicitor reviews the news articles you want removed, applies the UK GDPR legal tests and current case law, and tells you honestly what can be removed from Google and by which route.
Written Case Review and Fixed-Fee Quote
Within 48 hours, you receive a written review of your case and a fixed-fee quote. Valid for 14 days. You decide whether to proceed. Nothing starts until you agree in writing.
We act – and we persist
If you instruct us, we begin work immediately. Named solicitor. Clear communication. Publisher contact, Google RTBF submission, ICO escalation, court proceedings – whatever your case requires, we pursue it.
We are results focused. If the first approach to removing your news article from Google fails, we find the next one.
What it costs
- Standard cases – from £1,000 + VAT, fixed fee quoted in writing before any work starts
- Complex cases (multiple publications, resistant national titles, ICO proceedings, court action) – from £5,000 + VAT, fully scoped and quoted in advance
- The Expert Assessment itself is free. No obligation, no pressure.
You will never be charged for anything you have not agreed to in writing. If we conclude at the assessment stage that your articles do not have strong enough legal grounds for removal, we will tell you so clearly.
Request your free Expert Assessment
Tell us about the news articles you want removed from Google. A solicitor will call you back within one working day. The call is free, confidential, covered by legal professional privilege, and carries no obligation.