Public Information Policy

Where we get our data

The information on PlainSite comes from a variety of government databases that contain public information, cross-referenced with a private database of information about legal entities. We do not purchase information of any kind for PlainSite, nor do we sell information about our users.

Specifically, PlainSite contains information from the United States court system's PACER database, various IRS, FEC and GPO databases and ThinkLink.

Can you remove information about me?

To the extent that information is publicly available and provided by the government, we do not remove data from PlainSite. Even if we did, it would still be freely available elsewhere on sites that we have no control over. However, if information has been sealed or expunged by the government since the time when we first accessed the data, we are glad to take it down. We will also redact Social Security Numbers and other pieces of sensitive information published by the government in error upon request.

Specific data removal requests should be e-mailed to help@plainsite.org with a link to the material in question.

Why is this policy in place?

One of the goals of PlainSite is to reveal the way that average citizens are harmed by the activities of lobbyists and corporations. We also aim to shed light on the way that the government interacts with the American public. Much of this activity takes place through the legal system, and through the courts in particular. We cannot honor particular requests to hide public information because doing so would jeopardize the effectiveness of PlainSite as a transparency tool.

If a piece of public information is harming you or someone you know, the best course of action is to attempt to have it sealed or expunged by the government agency publishing the information.

Should I call you to remove information?

No. Please submit all requests in writing by e-mail.