Takedown Policy for Private Information in U-M Digital Collections

Digital collections hosted by the University of Michigan Library are intended to provide accurate and complete representations of information to advance the study and research of students, faculty, staff, and the general public. In preparing these U-M Digital Collections, we take steps to identify and remediate information that may pose legal concerns and significant privacy risks and could threaten the privacy and security of individuals, organizations, or other entities represented in the collection(s). 

Despite these efforts, private information may inadvertently be included in digital collections. In such cases, living individuals whose private information is exposed (or who are acting on behalf of a minor child or an incapacitated parent, spouse, domestic partner or adult child) are welcome to submit a takedown request. All such requests will be reviewed by relevant University of Michigan stakeholders, who may ask for additional information to better understand the issue and its consequences.

Given our commitment to preserving the authenticity and integrity of the scholarly and historical record, we are unable to correct errors or inaccuracies present in original items; redact digital content or indices; or otherwise remove access to materials except in cases where there are legal concerns (for example, the presence of HIPAA or FERPA protected information), significant risks to privacy (for example, exposed Social Security numbers), or documented evidence of a clear and imminent threat to personal safety and well-being.

This policy does not cover practices around sensitive content (such as harmful language), which are developed and managed separately.