On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 5:55 AM, Christopher P. Lindsey <lind...@mallorn.com > wrote:
> Hi everyone, > > I have a non-MHonArc-specific question to ask. > > I recently opened my archives up to Google for indexing and have > become inundated with requests to have messages removed from the > archives. > > Usually they're from family members who don't want grandma's > email address published, but I received one today from a large > organization that is apparently in hot water because of something > that someone posted ten years ago about a tract of land in > Texas. They now want me to remove all posts referencing their > organization and the poster. > > What do all of you do? And are any of you familiar with the > legal requirements to remove messages? > > When people signed up for the lists they were told that their > messages would be archived indefinitely and publicly. > > And even if I remove the message in question, their message is > quoted in peoples' replies. Do I have to delete the entire > thread including what other people have written because this > guy's name might be in the email? Even if I only strip out what > he has written other people have incriminating information in > their responses. > > And, of course, the other big problem is time... If I have > to go through 10 years of archives searching for mention of > this organization or the poster and then edit the emails and > rebuild the archives it's going to be a huge timesink. > > Thanks for any input, > > Chris > > The mail folder is in text format. you can edit out the information and rebuild the archive. When someone ask me to remove a post because it has its family name on it, i just remove the family name from the mail file and rebuild the archive for that month.... I also use R13 encoding for email addresses so they all masked.
