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What Is PlainSite?

PlainSite (plainsite.org) is operated by Aaron Greenspan through his nonprofit organization Think Computer Foundation. Greenspan, a Harvard classmate of Mark Zuckerberg who is known for various legal disputes involving Facebook, founded PlainSite with the stated mission of making government and legal data more accessible and transparent to the public.

PlainSite aggregates and publishes an unusually wide variety of public records, including: Learn more about expungement vs. record sealing on our blog.

What distinguishes PlainSite from many other legal databases is the depth of cross-referencing and the inclusion of non-court government records. A person who has been named in SEC enforcement actions, FTC complaints, or IRS matters may find all of those records aggregated alongside their court cases in a single PlainSite profile. Learn more about court record removal on our blog.

Why PlainSite Ranks So Well PlainSite's clean, structured URL format, comprehensive data, and cross-referencing of multiple record types make it particularly well-indexed by Google. PlainSite pages often rank in the top 3 results for searches combining a person's name with legal or financial terms. Because it covers not just court records but also regulatory and enforcement records, the breadth of potential harm from PlainSite is significant.

Why Your Court Record Appears on PlainSite

PlainSite aggregates records through automated data ingestion from PACER and various state court systems, SEC EDGAR, and other government databases. Records appear on PlainSite for the same general reasons they appear on other legal databases - they were publicly filed court documents at the time of indexing. For more information, visit the PlainSite.

Your record is probably showing in more places than you realize - and each one can be addressed.
Most people who reach out to us had no idea how many places their record had spread. Justia, Google Scholar, UniCourt, background check sites - each one a new place where employers, landlords, or dates might find you. A free scan shows you exactly where you stand, so you can do something about it.
See Every Place Your Record Appears →

PlainSite has several distinctive characteristics that affect how your record appears: Learn more about background check reports on our blog.

Greenspan's Transparency Philosophy Aaron Greenspan is a vocal advocate for government transparency and public access to records. He has publicly resisted removal requests he views as attempts to hide legitimate public information. Approach PlainSite removal requests with clear, documented legal grounds - do not expect that explaining the reputational harm alone will be sufficient. PlainSite's opt-out process exists, but it is not a rubber stamp.

Does PlainSite Offer a Removal Process?

Yes - PlainSite has one of the most explicitly stated opt-out processes among legal databases. The privacy opt-out page is located at plainsite.org/privacy.html. This is genuinely useful compared to platforms like FindLaw or Justia that have no formal opt-out process.

PlainSite's stated grounds for honoring opt-out requests include:

PlainSite is unlikely to honor requests based solely on: embarrassment, professional reputation concerns without specific harm documentation, or a general preference for privacy. Greenspan has publicly stated that legitimate public records should remain accessible and has pushed back against what he characterizes as attempts to rewrite history.

Step-by-Step: Requesting Removal from PlainSite

Most people in your position reach out right here.

You've already done the hard part - finding out what's out there. We handle the rest: every platform removal, Google de-indexing, and background check site. No upfront cost. Completely confidential.

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  1. Locate all your records on PlainSite Search plainsite.org for your name, any associated business names, and case numbers. Also run Google searches: site:plainsite.org "your full name". PlainSite's search is comprehensive - check for entity profiles, individual case pages, and any documents where your name appears as a party, attorney, or mentioned individual.
  2. Assess which records have the strongest removal grounds Not all records on PlainSite have equal removal prospects. Prioritize records where: (1) you have a court order sealing or expunging the case, (2) the case contains sensitive personal information, (3) you can document specific safety concerns, or (4) the record involves a case where you were a victim rather than a subject of investigation.
  3. Gather comprehensive documentation Compile certified copies of all relevant court orders. For safety-based requests, document the specific harm with whatever evidence is available (police reports, protective orders, evidence of stalking or harassment). For sensitive information requests, identify the specific data points that should have been redacted and the applicable court rule requiring redaction.
  4. Submit the opt-out request at plainsite.org/privacy.html Navigate to PlainSite's privacy page and follow the opt-out submission process. Be specific: list every URL you want removed, explain the grounds for each request, and attach your supporting documentation. Vague or undocumented requests are quickly dismissed - specificity and documentation are critical.
  5. Write a professional, factual cover message PlainSite requests are reviewed by a small team with strong transparency values. Your message should be factual, unemotional, and focused on documented legal grounds rather than reputational impact. Reference the specific legal basis (expungement statute, sealing order, FRCP Rule 5.2 for personal identifiers, etc.) rather than making general appeals to privacy.
  6. Submit Google de-indexing requests in parallel While waiting for PlainSite's response, submit Google removal requests for all PlainSite URLs. Do not wait - Google processing takes 3–6 weeks regardless of when you submit, so starting early matters. Use Google's Personal Information Removal Tool with the most applicable category.
  7. Follow up if no response within 3–4 weeks PlainSite response times are unpredictable. If you haven't received a response within 3–4 weeks, send a follow-up email to the contact address provided on PlainSite's privacy page. Reference your original submission date and request a status update.

What to Do If PlainSite Refuses

PlainSite refusals are common for requests without strong documented legal grounds. If your request is denied, you have several options: For more information, visit the Privacy Act of 1974.

Google De-Indexing as the Primary Path

Google de-indexing is the most effective practical remedy when PlainSite refuses direct removal. PlainSite ranks well in Google largely because Google discovers and surfaces its pages. Remove the Google discovery path and you eliminate most of the practical harm. Use Google's Personal Information Removal Tool for each specific PlainSite URL. After a successful Google de-index, the PlainSite page still exists but doesn't appear in Google results - and for most people, Google is the only realistic way they'd find it.

Return to Court for a Stronger Order

If you don't yet have a sealing or expungement order but believe you may qualify, consult an attorney about whether obtaining one would strengthen your PlainSite removal request. A court order is the single most powerful tool for compelling PlainSite's compliance, and PlainSite has historically been more responsive to removal requests backed by court orders than to requests without legal documentation.

Bing and Other Search Engine De-Indexing

Submit removal requests to Bing as well. Bing powers Yahoo Search and several other search engines, so Bing de-indexing has downstream effects beyond just Bing.com. Use bing.com/webmaster/tools/contentremoval.

Suppression Strategy

For PlainSite results that can't be removed or de-indexed, suppression is the realistic long-term approach. PlainSite pages have moderate-to-high domain authority, but a well-executed suppression campaign - building authoritative positive content on LinkedIn, a personal website, press coverage, and authored articles - can push PlainSite results to page 2 or beyond over a period of months.

De-Indexing PlainSite from Google Search

Google de-indexing is arguably the single most high-value step you can take for PlainSite records, for two reasons: (1) PlainSite ranks disproportionately well in Google for name searches, so de-indexing has a large practical impact, and (2) once a PlainSite page is de-indexed from Google, the practical exposure drops dramatically even if the page remains live.

Key tips for Google removal requests targeting PlainSite URLs:

After Successful Google De-Index Once Google approves a de-indexing request for a PlainSite page, monitor the Google Search results for your name over the following 3–4 weeks to confirm the page has been removed from Google's index. Also check whether any cached versions appear by searching cache:plainsite.org/[your-page-url] - if a cached version exists, you can request its removal through Google's cache removal tool as well.

After Expungement or Sealing: Does PlainSite Update?

PlainSite does not proactively update records when a court case is sealed or expunged. The platform captures records at the time of indexing and does not maintain live connections to court systems. An expungement order creates no automatic obligation on PlainSite's part.

However, an expungement or sealing order significantly changes the landscape of your removal request:

Working with Professionals

PlainSite is a high-priority target for removal precisely because it ranks so well in Google for name searches. It's also one of the more navigable platforms when you have the right documentation and approach - the existence of an explicit opt-out process at plainsite.org/privacy.html gives you a defined channel that many other platforms lack.

Professional reputation management services bring experience in what documentation and framing PlainSite responds to, coordinate Google de-indexing submissions for maximum effectiveness, and implement suppression strategies for cases where removal is denied. We help identify whether removal may be possible for your specific PlainSite record. Start with a free case review - no upfront cost, completely confidential.