1. Our approach
Every enquiry is assessed on its facts, the source of the material, the available evidence, applicable platform rules and the rights of everyone involved. We recommend proportionate routes and explain where removal, de-indexing, correction, response or suppression may be more appropriate.
We do not promise a particular result before a proper assessment. We may decline or stop work where information provided to us is materially incomplete, inaccurate or inconsistent with this policy.
2. Work we may handle
Subject to assessment, FirstRank may support matters involving exposed personal information, unwanted or misused images, impersonation, doxxing, copied profiles, deepfakes, inaccurate or outdated content, harmful search results and fake, abusive or policy-violating reviews.
Our work may include evidence gathering, publisher or platform reporting, privacy and policy requests, eligible search-engine de-indexing requests, review challenges, correction or response planning, negative-result suppression and the development of accurate, trusted digital assets.
Where an issue requires specialist legal advice, law-enforcement involvement, safeguarding support or another regulated professional, we may recommend that the client contact an appropriately qualified organisation before or alongside our work.
3. Work we will not undertake
FirstRank will not knowingly help conceal criminal conduct, deceive a court or regulator, intimidate a complainant or witness, destroy evidence, fabricate documents, create false identities, post fake reviews or submit information we know to be false.
We will not pursue lawful criticism, accurate reporting or information held in the legitimate public interest merely because it is uncomfortable or commercially inconvenient. Disagreement alone is not a valid basis for removal.
We will not support harassment, retaliation, censorship for an improper purpose, manipulation of public discussion or attempts to evade legitimate professional, regulatory or consumer accountability.
Clients must not send illegal imagery, graphic material or unnecessary sensitive files through our website or ordinary email. For an initial assessment, URLs, search terms and a short factual description are normally sufficient. Immediate threats or suspected criminal conduct should be reported to the police or appropriate authority.
4. Evidence and honest representations
Clients are expected to provide accurate context and disclose information that could materially affect an assessment. FirstRank may ask for evidence of identity, authority to act, ownership, falsity, privacy impact or a relevant relationship to the content.
Requests to publishers, platforms and search engines must use supportable facts and appropriate grounds. We do not impersonate clients, manufacture evidence or misrepresent the nature of a dispute.
5. Confidentiality and sensitive information
We treat enquiries and client matters discreetly and limit access to people and service providers who reasonably need the information for assessment, delivery, security, administration or professional advice.
We aim to minimise the information collected and discourage the unnecessary circulation of harmful material. Confidentiality cannot override a legal obligation, court order or a necessary disclosure relating to immediate safety, suspected abuse or serious unlawful conduct.
No online service can guarantee absolute security. Clients should follow the secure communication and evidence-handling instructions provided for their matter and avoid sending sensitive attachments unless specifically requested through an agreed method.
6. Realistic outcomes
Publishers, platforms, review services and search engines control their own decisions and response times. FirstRank cannot guarantee removal, de-indexing, ranking changes, a particular deadline or that removed material will never be republished.
Source removal, search de-indexing and suppression are different outcomes. A page may remain online after it is removed from particular search results, and suppression seeks to reduce prominence rather than delete the original source.
We provide an evidence-led view of available options, likely constraints and meaningful next steps. If new facts change the prospects, scope or recommended strategy, we will explain that change as clearly as possible.
7. Concerns about our work
Questions about this policy or concerns about a FirstRank matter can be sent to hello@firstrank.co.uk. Please include enough information for us to identify the issue, but do not attach harmful or highly sensitive material unless requested.
We may update this policy as services, platform standards and responsible working practices develop. The latest version will be published on this page.