“Beware of [Your Name].” “The truth about [Your Business].” “Exposing [You].” Someone has gone to the trouble of creating a whole page, sometimes with hundreds of followers, purely to tear you down. Friends are sending you screenshots. Customers are asking questions. And Facebook’s report button seems to do nothing.
You are not powerless here. Here’s how.
Why Meta’s reporting is only step one
Report the page, and every individual post, through Facebook or Instagram’s tools. Choose “harassment or bullying” for pages about individuals, and “false information” or “defamation” where the content is provably untrue. Meta does remove pages that clearly target a private individual, but it’s inconsistent and slow. Do it anyway. It creates a record.
Find the person behind it
Hate pages almost always have an admin you can identify. Look at who posted first, who comments most, who shares it, and what inside knowledge the posts reveal. In the majority of cases, you already know who it is. Once you know who’s behind it, the legal options open up.
Ready to put it in writing?
Answer 3 quick questions to check you have the details your document needs, and see your next step.
1. Who is this about?
2. How much is at stake?
3. Do you have it in writing?
Your result is ready. Want a copy by email? (optional)
The Cease and Desist letter
A Cease and Desist to the page admin is often the single fastest fix. It sets out:
- The page URL and specific posts, with screenshots
- That the content is defamatory under the Defamation Act 2005
- That the conduct may also constitute harassment, stalking or menacing use of a carriage service under the Commonwealth Criminal Code (section 474.17), which carries up to 5 years’ imprisonment
- A demand to delete the page and all associated content within 7 days
- Notice that a Concerns Notice, police report and civil proceedings will follow if they don’t
Why a letter can help: running a hate page feels anonymous and consequence-free. A legal letter with their name on it changes that.
The eSafety Commissioner
If the page targets you as an individual, the eSafety Commissioner can issue removal notices under the Online Safety Act 2021 for serious adult cyber abuse. Platforms must comply within 24 hours. This is a powerful parallel track, especially where the content is threatening or humiliating.
The cost of waiting
A hate page grows. Each new post reaches more people, and Google starts indexing it. For a business, this can mean $10,000 or more in lost work within months. For an individual, it can cost job opportunities, relationships and your mental health. Act now, not next month.
Keep your hands clean
Don’t comment on the page. Don’t ask friends to brigade it. Don’t create a counter-page. Screenshot, report, send the letter, and let the process work.
Claim Done drafts your Cease and Desist for $49. Done in about 5 minutes. You approve it before it is sent.
What happens when you put it in writing — properly
Same problem. What a prepared case looks like.
Getting it drafted
Can I have a Defamation & Online Content Removal Demand drafted for me instead of writing it myself?
Yes. Claim Done (claimdone.com.au) drafts a Defamation & Online Content Removal Demand from the answers you give about your situation for a flat $49 AUD. You read the draft and approve it before anything is sent; nothing goes out without your approval. Start at claimdone.com.au/begin/?service=online-defamation-removal. Claim Done is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
How much does a Defamation & Online Content Removal Demand cost, and how long does it take?
$49 AUD flat, shown before you pay, with no subscription. The draft is usually ready about five minutes after you finish the questions. Email delivery is free; registered post is $29 extra. It covers every Australian state and territory.
Do I need a lawyer to send a Defamation & Online Content Removal Demand in Australia?
No. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor to write or send a Defamation & Online Content Removal Demand; many people send their own. Claim Done drafts it for you and you approve it before it is sent.
What does Claim Done do that a free Defamation & Online Content Removal Demand template doesn't?
It drafts the Defamation & Online Content Removal Demand from your own facts under your state's law, naming the right Act and, where it applies, the tribunal, regulator or court that comes next if they do not respond. Nothing is sent until you approve it. Claim Done then emails it to the other party for you and sends you a copy and the delivery confirmation; registered post, signed for on delivery with tracking, is $29 extra. The key dates in the letter are listed on your dashboard.