Data Broker
A company that collects and sells personal information from various sources, including arrest records and mugshots. Data brokers often distribute this data across multiple websites.
Content Removal Service
A professional service designed to assist individuals in removing unwanted online content, such as mugshots or negative search results, often through take-down requests or legal intervention.
Expungement Eligibility
The criteria one must meet to qualify for expungement, which varies by state. Eligibility often depends on factors like the type of offense, time since the offense, and the individual’s legal history.
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
A U.S. federal law that regulates the collection and usage of personal information in consumer reports, including how arrest records may appear in employment background checks.
Internet Privacy Law
A legal framework that governs the protection of personal information shared or stored online. Some privacy laws offer protection or removal options for individuals with online arrest records.
Public Interest Defense
A legal argument used by media and content-hosting sites to justify keeping certain records accessible if they serve the public interest, even when removal requests are made.
Sealing Records
A legal process similar to expungement, but instead of destroying the record, it is hidden from public view. Sealed records are generally not accessible through background checks or public websites.
Section 230
Part of the Communications Decency Act in the U.S., this law grants immunity to websites for content created by third parties. It limits the liability of mugshot-hosting websites when users post information or photos.
The act of reviewing and removing personal information or sensitive content from social media profiles. This can be part of a broader online reputation management strategy.
Third-Party Hosting
Websites that store or display content created by other users, often including mugshot and arrest record websites. Many operate under legal protection, complicating removal processes.
User-Generated Content (UGC)
Content created by individual users rather than the website itself. Many mugshot sites rely on UGC, which can complicate removal efforts due to Section 230 protections.
Web Crawler
An automated program used by search engines to index content from websites. When a mugshot site is crawled, the images and records can appear in search results, increasing visibility.
Web Scraping
A technique where information is extracted from websites to compile databases, often used by mugshot websites, data brokers and background check websites to collect and publish arrest records and mugshots.