Genealogy Chat

Faith Click on import/export tree on the left hand side of the page Scroll down and you will see a link to click for deleting your tree.

After reading some of these comments I want to delete my tree from here. I have another copy not on any website though. How do I delete it please? Di

Thank you for confirming that names should not be added of anyone alive without permission. I thought this the case but wondered as I had entered my name down as opposed to just 'living' + surname, that this could be considered permission. I agree in most cases people are only interested in their own family as indeed I was. My advice would be to watch for people who have 15,000 plus on their tree you can almost be sure if you look back later everything of yours will be added. Shame some spoil it for the majority who are only interested in family history not name collecting.

..must add, this is a sensible thread, I haven't been a member since the beginning but at least three years now and I must add that in earlier years this site was the bees knees! It's still good, I read the boards and enjoy that people help still, just as they did for me. I am now a one man tree. Deleted a year ago, Its a shame, because I now will never link with what may be a break out lead. Nevertheless, security above research for all my living or dead, especially when either could be cloned. regards, Bob

You are supposed to have permission from each and every living person before you post their details. In theory if you allow someone else to see your tree then they should also have permission from each living individual before they put the details up. In practice, this is unworkable. The only reason the rule is there is to prevent the living individual from trying to bring a case under the Data Protection Act. The case would have to be brought against the member who posted the details, and the likelyhood of this proceeding is zilch. However, as a last resort, if you or any other living person object to their name appearing in another tree, and the tree owner has refused to remove the details, GR will, as a last resort, remove the information, if you ask them to. GR make the point in their terms and conditions that if you allow someone to see your tree, then they might choose to copy your information. This is a risk that you take in letting someone see your tree. I my experience, this is not a problem, as most people are only interested in the bits of information that are close to their own research.

Can someone just clarify exactly what other people can take from your tree and display on theirs. I understood if the person was living ie; the person whose tree it is, then without permission this cannot be done. I have just queried with a member why she has added my name and was informed she used PAF I think it was called to add information, apparently this only shows up names no dates etc. but does however show your parents names etc. I guess I am locking the gate after the horse has bolted as I shall remove my tree. ID fraud has been mentioned in this tread and I certainly know that the answer to many security questions used by Banks etc can easily be answered with information given on this site. How often are you asked Place of Birth? Mothers maiden name?

The recording of family trees is not covered by the data protection legislation. The Data Protection Act 1998 gives you the right to access information held about you by organisations. The act governs how organisations can use the personal information that they hold - including how they acquire, store, share or dispose of it. As far as sites such as GR are concerned, data protection only applies to the information about yourself that you have provided under your account details.

Have removed all my tree from here

Just to remind people again: lots of HM's guests - clever and devious people with a lot of time on their hands - use THIS site and others like it.

I do hope people listen and take notice of your comments. Far too much information goes on these trees, even adding 'living' does not make it impossible to work out who people are as you get their name when they contact you.

Just got this reply from GR:- ' ' Thanks for your email and bring this to our attention I understand your concern and can confirm that member are not allowed to enter another living relatives name on the site withour there permission first westate thisin our terms and conditions on the site. I have forwarded your email to our development team to review for future enhancements on the site. Best regards, Abuse Administrator The Genes Support Team ' ' Hmmm... still sounds a bit like a 'brush off' to me!! Bee.

Bee, On the question of Data Protection (that is if it ever applies, and that is actually a moot point with a site like this) GR have no responsibility. All responsibility lies with the person posting the details, and any action would have to be brought against the poster by the named person.

Please don't get me wrong, we all have to be careful about ID fraud, but don't get paranoid. I speak as someone who experienced credit card fraud earlier this year, so I know what it is like. Whilst it is possible, just as anything is possible, it is unlikely that details will be lifted from this site for this purpose. ID fraud requires more than just a name. The phone book is a better source of this information as this has an address as well. Do make sure that you never throw away Bank Statements or Utility Bills as these are vital to the fraudster. And think carefully before you issue cheques. In the wrong hands they are like manna from heaven.

After reading all these replies I've just decided to hide my living relatives. To make sure the info is hidden I've also deleted birth dates of all living relatives except birth years. I always suspected info could be used for identity fraud but reading these replies confirms my paranoia. Isn't there some advice stated by GR to ask people before copying their tree?

I've had this response from GR:- ' 'Thanks for your email. When you give someone access to your tree you can privatise the details of it. This will hide details you have entered for individuals born in the last 120yrs with no death date except for your own entry. To privatise your tree simply go to My Account Details, which can be accessed with your password from the top left hand corner of the page. You can then choose 'yes' where it says 'Hide living relations'. The names can still be found in the search results with the year and place of birth. No other information about the relation will be available though. I hope this helps. Best regards, Abuse Administrator The Genes Support Team' ' As someone - Heather? - said, not everyone knows how to do this, and some people may not realise the risks to identity fraud, let alone confidentiality. Anyone know how GR would stand re Data Protection? Who would be liable, them or the person 'permitting' the info to be displayed? I'm going to try them again. Anyone want to join me in bombarding them with complaints of abuse of the site? Bee.

Hi What I find that even the most well connected family member has really p****d me off.. I did a file for a 2nd cousin with my family details on.... I know I have'nt sent the file to anyone else.. This file has been forwarded to another contact who then proceeded to add me .. my siblings.. my parents ..my cousins.. to his tree... I neither gave him permission to use my notes which all turned up on here.. but he also breached all the genes laws going by adding living relatives to a tree who he did not have permission to add.. after a struggle to get him to take my details off here.. I have found all my notes .. my parents.. etc.. splashed all over ancestry... I would'nt do that to someone .. and if people were genuine family historians knowing the potential of Identity theft etc etc these days people just would'nt do it.. and really should'nt do it.. My tree still stands in its entirety on ancestry.. with all my notes that I had first made.... yet there's no personal details in about his own family.... I could name him.. but you know who you are.... Mo Plus I know you must have resubmitted my tree onto genes as my grandmother has just come up in my hotmatches again.. you cannot add a grandmother without having my parents to say the least I am not impressed

Thing is Merv, not everyone is computer/internet savvy - as you have pointed out, you go to your account and click hide living rellies, but I would bet 90% of the members dont even know how to access their account on here. Only a tiny minority use these boards - when I have suggested to people to use them they are amazed they actually exist! They have come here, paid their money, managed to enter their family details and thats it. GR should be aware of that and protect the members automatically. And Im not sure with all the glitches that the hide living rellies tab works - lots of people have complained living rellies have shown up on others trees. I am still getting opened trees in my post and certainly they give every detail of the originators.

I don't understand all the hoo haa about showing living relations ! Go to your 'My Account Details' and tick the 'Hide Living Relations' box............................simple !!! Only the tree owner see's the full list whilst others cannot. Personally, I think that in the main, the problem is PEBCAMS.

I've just sent GR a message about this, suggesting that there should be an automatic block on living individuals being displayed. It's a subject that come up time and again. Perhaps if we ALL wrote in EVERY time we noticed it, they may take some notice?? (Or they may not! But it's worth trying, surely?) Bee.

Hi All, I still think it's up to Genes to do something about this, as a lot of us that's been on here from almost the begining it's not got any better, and now with so many more members using the site it's only fair I think that Genes must pop back and forth like big brother. After all if we didn't join there wouldn't be a Genes Connected / Reunited would there? Regards Jill