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How to fix deceased people of no historical significance that have somehow become confidential.

JohnCARROLL70
JohnCARROLL70 ✭
January 16, 2022 in General Questions

I have entered deceased people of no historical significance and they have somehow become confidential. How can I fix this so that they can be viewed by others?

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Answers

  • Julia Szent-Györgyi
    Julia Szent-Györgyi ✭✭✭✭✭
    January 16, 2022

    It is my impression/understanding that confidentiality usually has to do with "sensitive" areas of the world, not with historical significance. Unfortunately, the automated process that triggers this setting doesn't know the difference between "died as a soldier in a battle at __" and "lived and died in __", so it Gets It Wrong fairly frequently. I think the only way to get it fixed is to contact someone at FamilySearch, but nowadays that's a non-trivial task in itself.... Hopefully, a moderator here can get you in touch with the right people.

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  • Brett .
    Brett . ✭✭✭✭✭
    January 17, 2022

    @JohnCARROLL70

    John

    I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...

    Just in passing ...

    Further to; and, in support of, what 'Julie' has already proffered ...

    Short Answer: You CANNOT address/fix, the 'Status'; but, 'FamilySearch' CAN, if such is deemed appropriate.

    Here are some "Knowledge Articles", in 'FamilySearch':

    What are living and confidential people in Family Tree?

    https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/living-and-confidential-people-in-family-tree

    https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/living-and-confidential-people-in-family-tree

    Why are deceased people on my list of Private People in Family Tree?

    https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/deceased-people-in-my-family-tree-private-space

    https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/deceased-people-in-my-family-tree-private-space

    Do confidential people in Family Tree ever become public?

    https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/are-the-confidential-people-in-my-family-tree-private-space-ever-made-public

    https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/are-the-confidential-people-in-my-family-tree-private-space-ever-made-public

    And ...

    Just like 'Julie' mentioned ...

    Hopefully, a "Moderator" [ ie. 'FamilySearch' "Support" ( Personnel) ], in this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, will take this matter into the workings of 'FamilySearch' "Support", communicating with you directly via/though either, "E-mail"; or, "User Messaging", in 'FamilySearch', to better assist you.

    I know, that this does not help/assist; but, I hope, that this may provide you with, some additional, insight; and, perspective.

    Brett

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  • JohnCARROLL70
    JohnCARROLL70 ✭
    February 16, 2022

    Thanks, Julie and Brett. The answer apparently is to delete the subject and re enter their details. Seems a bit extreme.

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  • Brett .
    Brett . ✭✭✭✭✭
    February 17, 2022

    @JohnCARROLL70

    John

    It's 'Brett'.

    Just in passing ...

    'NO'; 'No'; 'no', that is NOT, the 'Answer' ...

    Provided, that your "Confidential" individual/person, in your "Private Spaces", is "Deceased" ...

    You DO NOT, have to "Re-Enter" them, AGAIN ...

    'FamilySearch' "Support" ( Personnel ), CAN forward your case/matter, onto the "Department", in 'FamilySearch', that is responsible for "Confidential" People; and, provided, that your "Confidential" individual/person, in your "Private Spaces", DOES NOT really/actually need (ie. meet the criteria) to be marked; as, "Confidential"; THEN, the 'Staus' of "Confidential", CAN; and SHOULD, be "Removed", from that individual/person.

    As, most likely, "Re-Entering" them, again, WILL (Only) just 'Triger', the 'Staus' of "Confidential"; being, APPLIED to the individual/person, that you re-entered.

    Just my thoughts.

    Brett

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  • JohnCARROLL70
    JohnCARROLL70 ✭
    February 17, 2022

    Sorry, Brett, but that advice was from Family Search. I did it with one person of no historical significance that I had entered. It seemed to work. I must have made them confidential by mistake, but I have no idea how that happened

    Thanks for your reply.

    Regards, Kate (JohnCarroll70)

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  • Paul W
    Paul W ✭✭✭✭✭
    February 17, 2022 edited February 17, 2022

    I wonder if the "algorithm" has been changed fairly recently. Whilst accepting the points made by Julia and Brett, I do feel there have been a lot more similar reports of late, which perhaps indicates a problem / possible bug that is responsible for creating so many Deceased individuals with Confidential status.

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  • Brett .
    Brett . ✭✭✭✭✭
    February 18, 2022

    @JohnCARROLL70

    John

    I DO NOT, know, who in 'FamilySearch' "Support", advised you of such ...

    [ Possibly, Level ONE, personnel, (an inexperienced person) thought/via, Telephone; or, "Live ('On-Line') "Chat" ]

    UNLESS ...

    There has been a SIGNIFICANT "Change' in "Policy" ...

    I reiterate ...

    'FamilySearch' "Support" ( Personnel ), CAN forward your case/matter, onto the "Department", in 'FamilySearch', that is responsible for "Confidential" People; and, provided, that your "Confidential" individual/person, in your "Private Spaces", DOES NOT really/actually need (ie. meet the criteria) to be marked; as, "Confidential"; THEN, the 'Staus' of "Confidential", CAN; and SHOULD, be "Removed", from that individual/person.

    And ...

    The usual response in such matters is ...

    WILL be, something like ...

    Your question will be forwarded to a specialty team for review and resolution. You will be contacted by private message in Community from that team to gather more information.  

    [ As I have seen, on a number of occasions ... case in point ... ]

    As such ...

    Sometimes, the application, of the 'Status', of "Confidential Person", is just "Cautionary" ...

    I have gotten, the 'Status' of "Confidential Person", lifted off a number of individuals/persons.

    [ ie. Once, 'FamilySearch', investigated "Fully" ... ]

    Both, for myself; and, for/on behalf of other Users/Patrons.

    Hopefully, the "Moderators" [ ie. 'FamilySearch' "Support" (Personnel) ], here in the Forum, can take your particular matter, into the Working of 'FamilySearch' "Support", have such investigated; and, reviewed.

    Good Luck.

    Brett

    Attention: @CJTobler ( FYI - Can you PLEASE, try, to help/assist, in this matter, 'Thank You', in advance. )

    .

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  • Carla Tobler
    Carla Tobler mod
    February 18, 2022 edited February 18, 2022

    @JohnCARROLL70

    We are sending you a private message for more information. Please watch for the red dot on the bell in the upper right-hand corner of your screen.

    1
  • Brett .
    Brett . ✭✭✭✭✭
    February 18, 2022

    @CJTobler

    FYI

    'Thank You', so much.

    [ As, ALWAYS ... 'Muchly' appreciated ... ]

    Brett

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  • JohnCARROLL70
    JohnCARROLL70 ✭
    February 19, 2022

    Hi Brett, the advice to delete the person is actually on the website. Anyway, it didn't work. Kate

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  • Carla Tobler
    Carla Tobler mod
    February 19, 2022

    @JohnCARROLL70

    Your question has been forwarded to a specialty team for review. This specialty team may contact you should they need further information.

    Best wishes!

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  • Brett .
    Brett . ✭✭✭✭✭
    February 19, 2022

    @JohnCARROLL70

    Kate

    'Yes' ...

    An individual/person, can ONLY, be "Deleted", from the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', in the following circumstance ...

    If, you "Created", that individual/person ; AND, if, you were the ONLY "Contributor", to that individual/person.

    IF, "Any" OTHER User/Patron, made ANY "Contributions", whatsoever, to that individual/person; and, that includes, the likes of 'FamilySearch'; THEN, the "Delete Person", will NOT be available.

    But ...

    That Said ...

    There was RECENT a Fault/Flaw, in the "System"; where, 'behind the scenes' actions, done by 'FamilySearch', that were NOT actually, "Contributions"; where, unfortunately, considered; as, being "Contributions", that MADE the "Delete Person", DISAPPEAR; and, be replaced, by "Delete Person Unavailable".

    I advised, that there did seemed, to be, a problem/issue, with the "Delete Person", NOT; being available; when, in fact, it should have been; where, that was investigated; and, addressed/fixed, for FUTURE occurrences; but, such was NOT, "Back Dated"; so, that there are obviously, a number, of individuals/persons, who SHOULD have, the "Delete Person"; but, such have "Delete Person Unavailable".

    Currently, 'FamilySearch', MUST correct, each of the PAST individuals/persons, in that predicament, on a case, by case, basis.

    I doubt, that 'FamilySearch', will bother, to create a "Fix", to address, ALL the PAST occurrences, of such.

    As such, would Not really, be worth the effort.

    Brett

    ps: Hopefully, now that, 'CJTobler' ( ie. a "Moderator"), has taken up the mantle, you MAY, be able to get the matter resolved (ie. the 'Status' of "Confidential Person", removed - Good Luck).

    .

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