Online attacks on personality rights in Greece: evidence, removal and compensation

What was published, and what makes it objectionable?

A comment, photograph or publication of personal details is assessed in context. The precise content, the surrounding discussion, who can be identified and who could access the material all matter. Distinguish a claim about a specific fact from an opinion, and note whether the material is still being shared.

Article 57 of the Greek Civil Code protects against unlawful interference with personality rights and allows a person to seek an end to the infringement and protection against repetition. Criticism is not unlawful simply because it is unwelcome. A lawyer assesses the facts and the balance with other rights, including freedom of expression and information.

Preserve evidence before asking for deletion

Save the complete URL and screenshots showing the text, account, date and surrounding conversation. Record when you discovered it, any republication and communications with the administrator. A cropped image without an address or context may not capture what the case needs.

Keep original files without editing and seek advice on an appropriate way to preserve evidence. If you allege professional or financial loss, gather specific supporting material. Documenting the incident does not require publicly reposting the offensive material, accessing someone else’s account or publishing retaliatory accusations.

• Complete post and profile addresses
• Discovery date, images and full content
• Available republications and correspondence
• Specific consequences and the outcome you seek

Platform report, erasure request or court protection?

A platform report is assessed under that platform’s rules and does not replace every legal request. Where personal data are involved, an erasure request to the controller may be appropriate if the legal conditions are met. Erasure has exceptions; it does not automatically require every reference to a person to disappear.

Delisting a link from results displayed after a search for your name does not necessarily remove the original publication. Keep the source, copies and search engine distinct in your file. If an infringement continues and the matter is urgent, interim court protection may also be considered, without any assurance that relief will be granted or issued within a fixed time.

Financial claims and the lawyer’s role

Seeking to stop an infringement is different from claiming financial compensation or satisfaction for non-material harm. Article 59 of the Civil Code provides for satisfaction for such harm where its conditions are met. The appropriate claim, legal basis and evidence depend on the conduct and its consequences; there is no standard compensation amount for every post.

For a first meeting with a lawyer in Heraklion, prepare a short timeline and explain the priority: removal, preventing repetition, a corrective response or a financial claim. Any data-protection or criminal-law issues and their deadlines are checked separately. The strategy may involve a formal out-of-court step and, where necessary, proceedings before the competent court.