How to Search and Handle Personal Information Posted on 2channel and 5channel

In this era, anyone can easily share information through social media and participate in various communities.

However, while this has made communication more convenient, anonymous bulletin boards like 2channel and 5channel have become platforms for slander. Cases of personal information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and workplaces being exposed are increasing.

Some of you may be worried that your personal information might be posted on 2channel or 5channel. However, due to the vast number of posts and the amount of information on these anonymous bulletin boards, it is difficult to check each one individually.

In this article, we will explain how to search for personal information posted on bulletin boards like 2channel and 5channel for those who are concerned that their personal information might be posted there.

We will also explain what to do if your personal information is actually posted.

What are 2channel and 5channel?

2channel (formerly known as 2channel) is an internet bulletin board that was established as a personal website by Hiroyuki Nishimura in May 1999. It is often abbreviated as 2chan or 2ch.

After a complex dispute over the transfer of management rights, the name was changed to 5channel (5ch.net) in 2017, and it has been operated under this name since then.

While 2channel still exists today, it is a new internet bulletin board that Hiroyuki Nishimura established in April 2014, and is often referred to as the “new 2channel”.

For more details, please refer to another article on our website.

Related article: What is the difference between “2channel” and “5channel”? Explaining the current situation[ja]

How to Search on 2channel

Next, I will explain two methods of searching.

How to Search on 2ch.sc

2ch.sc (New 2channel) is set up so that posts from 5channel are automatically reposted.

Therefore, by using the search function of 2ch.sc, you can simultaneously search for personal information posted on 2channel and 5channel, which is efficient.

When you access 2ch.sc (New 2channel), a page like the one in the image below will be displayed.

On the right side of the search box, there are tabs for “Body”, “Thread Title”, and “Poster”. By selecting a tab, you can set the search target.

Then, there is a search box at the top of the page, where you enter the string you want to search for, such as your name.

• If you select the “Thread Title” tab, you can search for threads (bulletin boards).

• If you select the “Body” tab, you can search for the content of posts within a thread.

• If you select the “Poster” tab, you can search for posts made under your name.

You can do this.

For example, if you search for “Tanaka Taro” in the thread title, the search results will be displayed as follows.

The search results display the thread title, and if there are posts with the searched name, they are displayed in yellow. By viewing the thread, you can check if your name has been posted.

In this search method, you can easily search for personal information that has been posted by entering the string you want to search for.

When searching for the target post within a thread with posts,

• Press Ctrl+F on Windows
• Press command+F on macOS

You can search by pressing.

How to Search on Google

The search method on Google is a search engine, and

• Search for “Tanaka Taro site:2ch.sc”
• Search for “Tanaka Taro site:5ch.net”

You can search for the content of posts on 2channel and 5channel. “site:” is a search method called “search expression” on Google, which allows you to search only from the specified site (domain).

This method has the disadvantage that it is difficult to find if the posts on 2channel and 5channel are not at the top of the search results, but it has the advantage that you can discover that your personal information has been posted on a thread you never thought of.

How to Remove Personal Information from 2channel and 5channel

When you discover that your personal information has been posted, it is natural to want to prevent it from being seen by more people. In this case, it is necessary to delete the posted personal information as soon as possible.

Even if the posted personal information is deleted, you may not know where the personal information has leaked. In such cases, it is possible to identify the person who posted the personal information and make a claim for damages.

In the following, we will explain how to delete personal information posted on 2channel and 5channel and how to claim damages.

2channel

There are two ways to delete personal information posted on 2channel: making a deletion request yourself or asking a lawyer to take legal action.

If you want to make a deletion request yourself, you can access the “Deletion Request Entrance @2ch Bulletin Board[ja]” and make a deletion request on the deletion request board.

On the deletion request board, you can only request the deletion of posts that are considered important deletion targets, which include personal names, addresses, affiliations, phone numbers, and email addresses.

You can make a deletion request from the following form.

By making a request from the above deletion request form, your personal information will be deleted.

However, if the deletion is not made after a while, we recommend consulting with a lawyer.

Related article: How to Write a Deletion Request for 2channel (2ch.sc) Posts and Points to Note[ja]

5channel

The methods for deleting personal information posted on 5channel are the same as for 2channel: making a deletion request yourself or asking a lawyer to take legal action.

If you want to make a deletion request yourself, you can access the “Deletion Request (Entrance) @5channel Bulletin Board[ja]” and make a deletion request by email or a general deletion request.

On 5channel, as with 2channel, personal names, addresses, affiliations, private life information, phone numbers, and email addresses are subject to deletion, so you can delete them by making a deletion request.

However, if the deletion is not made after a while, we again recommend consulting with a lawyer.

The Option of Claiming Damages

Even if personal information is removed through the above deletion request or a request to a lawyer, it is conceivable that you may suffer economic or mental disadvantages due to the posting of personal information.

In such cases, it is possible to identify the person who made the post and claim damages.

The most important thing to claim damages is to identify the perpetrator who made the post. If the perpetrator can be identified, those who have had their personal information posted on 2channel or 5channel will be able to claim damages from the poster on the grounds of unlawful acts.

For more details on identifying the perpetrator, please refer to the following articles.

Related Article: How to Identify the Perpetrator Who Wrote Slanderous Comments on 2channel (2ch.sc)[ja]

Related Article: Explaining the Procedures Necessary for Deleting Posts and Identifying Posters on 5channel[ja]

Summary: Consult a Lawyer for the Deletion of Posts on 5chan

We have explained how to investigate personal information posted on 2chan and 5chan, and how to handle situations where your personal information has been posted.

If your personal information is posted on an online bulletin board, it can be disseminated without your knowledge, and in the worst case, you may be involved in a crime. Therefore, it is important to understand how to search to see if your personal information has been posted.

If you find that your information has been posted as a result of your search, it is important to take action promptly.

While it is possible to request the deletion of posted personal information yourself, it may not always be deleted as expected. Moreover, it is difficult for those without specialized knowledge to make a claim for damages.

Therefore, if you discover that your personal information has been posted on an online bulletin board, please consult with a lawyer who has specialized knowledge before your personal information is widely disseminated.

Introduction to Our Firm’s Measures

Monolith Law Office is a legal office with high expertise in both IT, particularly the Internet, and law. In recent years, overlooking information related to reputational damage and slander spread on the Internet can lead to serious harm. Our firm provides solutions for managing reputational damage and online crises. Details are provided in the article below.