[AndreaVass]

According to a lawyer, I could sue for “false light invasion of privacy.” Unfortunately, the pastor doesn’t live in a state where that tort is recognized. In any case, Google just fixed the knowledge panel-so thank you guys so very much for commenting and discussing my post! I exchanged dozens of emails with Google in April, then they just started ignoring me after that, all the while rotating images in the knowledge panel. A few days ago they had the audacity to send me a survey about my experience with the knowledge panel support team.

[mebassett]

one good thing about doing an "Ask HN" is that it can get so much attention that someone high up at google sees it and fixes it. I'm glad to hear that Google fixed it. Nevertheless, I still wish for legal action just to get a court precedent saying that these things aren't OK. I can dream, I guess.

[AndreaVass]

I would love to take legal action if I could find a brave attorney. During my consultations with attorneys, they began speaking in half-words and unfinished sentences as soon as I said my dispute was with Google. I was willing to file the suit without a lawyer to at least force them to fix it. At the very least, I will be reaching out to law professors who are interested in this topic in hopes that they will start a conversation. Although I’m glad it’s fixed, I’m still really ticked off they took me and others through this for months. We all felt very powerless.

[scrps]

I would try contacting the EFF, they might be interested in taking up the case or might be able to find you a lawyer who is willing to.

This is the second time in a few months that I have seen this issue crop up:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27622100

[mebassett]

Yes, by "Access to the legal system" I really meant "money and introductions to a law firm that could credibly and argue a complaint against google". I've asked the lawyers I know on twitter if they know anyone (https://twitter.com/mebassett/status/1428032516292759560) but I don't know what else one can do.https://twitter.com/mebassett/status/1428032516292759560

it's easy to say "you should sue" but that's a lot more difficult in practice.

[klyrs]

> In any case, Google just fixed the knowledge panel-so thank you guys so very much for commenting and discussing my post!

I fear that this situation will not last. I just googled the name, and curiously, the knowledge panel has a little link that says "claim this knowledge panel." Do you see that option; have you tried exercising it?

[bryanrasmussen]

>I could sue for “false light invasion of privacy.

Yes you could sue for that but I doubt that is what the pastor should sue for, as you said she was threatened after being mis-identfied as you, they were told of their error, they recognized it and removed her picture, then they put another one in of her again.

I think the pastor should talk to a lawyer from her state as to what she can sue for.