Truth & Advocacy By Calvin-Lee Hardie – Inverness

They don’t expect you to fight back.

That’s the first thing you should understand.

When your name is dragged through mud online, when strangers comment on your life with no context, when your past is twisted into a punchline or a headline — they expect you to stay quiet. Maybe delete your account. Maybe disappear entirely.

I almost did.

But instead, I opened a new document.

I started writing everything down.

Not to vent — to build.

That was the moment everything changed.

✍️ The First Step: You Write Before You Spe

Your instinct might be to respond right away. To explain. To correct.

Don’t.

Instead: document everything.

Start a private file. Create a timeline.

• When did the posts go up?

• Who posted them?

• What exactly was said or shown?

• Are there screenshots? Comments? Dates? URLs?

Make a copy of everything. Don’t assume it’ll stay online.

Liars love to delete when you get too close to the truth.

🧾 The Legal Path: Slow, but Powerful

I didn’t know how to file a complaint when I started.

But I knew one thing: my rights were being violated.

Here’s where I began:

UK GDPR – Article 17 (Right to Erasure): If content uses your personal data — especially if it’s harmful, inaccurate, or no longer necessary — you have the right to request its removal. I used this law with search engines, hosting providers, and social platforms. ICO Complaint: When organisations failed to act, I escalated to the Information Commissioner’s Office. They do investigate. And once they’re involved, the pressure gets real. Copyright Law: If someone posts an image or content you created — without consent — you can file a copyright takedown. Even screenshots of you may fall under your intellectual property if originally posted to a platform you own. Defamation & Harassment: If the content is false and damaging, you may have grounds for legal action. I filed under both. You don’t need a solicitor to start — just evidence and courage.

📤 Who You Can Report To:

Google Legal Removal: File under defamation, privacy, or outdated content. It works — if you’re persistent. Web Hosting Companies: Use WHOIS or domain lookup tools. If the site is hosted by a UK-based provider, they’re subject to UK law — and some do act when pressed legally. Social Media Platforms: Most are slow and automated. But with strong legal wording and screenshots, appeals can succeed. I’ve forced reversals. You can too.

🧠 The Strategy That Saved Me:

Don’t just fight emotionally.

Fight like a case is being built — because it is.

Name every file clearly: “Defamation_FacebookPost_27June2025.png”

Number every folder:

“Folder 1 – Harassment Evidence”

“Folder 2 – Removal Requests”

Record every contact: Dates, names, what was said, and when. Copy and paste every policy that protects you. Most platforms have clauses they ignore until you throw it back at them.

💬 Tell Your Story — On Your Terms

They told the internet one version of who I was.

So I wrote mine.

Every blog post, every caption, every quote — it became my weapon.

Because silence makes space for lies.

And your story, no matter how messy, deserves to be told truthfully. Authentically.

By you.

🛠️ Final Words for Anyone Starting Their Fight:

You don’t need to be perfect.

You just need to begin.

Document. Demand. Don’t back down.

Even if no one claps for you.

Even if the process is slow.

Even if they laugh at first.

You’ll find your power not in how fast you win —

but in the fact that you refused to be erased.

And if they’re watching you now — let them.

Let them see what it looks like when someone speaks without fear anymore.

I’m not done yet. And if you’re reading this, neithe