jerk.com Jerk LLC, www.jerk.com/areyouajerk.php, jerk.de used my image and name as defamation of character. cyberbulling thousands of people. Huntington Beach, California
'Jerk.com' describes itself as a website where you find out if someone is a jerk, is not a jerk, or is a saint in the eyes of others. The purpose of the site is to anonymously rate people on being either 'a jerk' or 'not a jerk' via a poll on their profile. These profiles will almost always be posted without the person's knowledge or consent (with no signing-up involved or Terms & Conditions agreed to), and often include a picture of the person concerned. Alarmingly, there is also a facility on these pages for the buying and selling of people's personal information including age, address, email address and telephone number.
It is impossible for those affected by the site's actions to remove their unauthorised & unwanted profiles because it's not possible to remove things from the internet, claims the website. However, for a fee of $90, one can redirect their profile to any other page on the internet - this basically contradicts the original statement, and almost appears to blackmail those who want their profile taken down. Jerk LLC (the owners of the site) also charge $25 for those who wish to contact them via an online form.
Most people discover their profile by simply performing a Google search on their own name. As 'Jerk.com' has acquired a high search ranking, their page will often be one of - if not the top - search result. It is a well known practice that Employers will use search engines to gather information on potential employees, meaning a profile on 'Jerk.com' could potentially have life-changing consequences for the person concerned.
There have been a number of articles published by different media sources that question and expose the actions of Jerk.com and Jerk LLC. There is also a heavily frequented Google Groups message board that
those affected by the site use to discuss their experiences, views and concerns . Twitter and Facebook campaigns have been set up that petition against and raise awareness of the actions of 'Jerk.com'. Though these are of relatively small numbers compared to the thousands (if not millions) who unknowingly have a
profile posted on the website, there is growing opposition to what many feel is a highly immoral infringement on their privacy by a site that has no right to use their personal information in the way it does.