Google has announced updated tools to make it easier to request the removal of personal information from search results. The first relates to personal data such as your home address and other revealing information which could be used in a variety of ways.
The second tool is designed to make it quicker and easier to request the removal of non-consensual explicit images from search results. There are also easy ways to track the progress of any removal requests you have submitted.
The personal data removal tool is part of “Results about you” which Google says has proved incredibly popular. The capabilities of the tool have now been expanded to allow for the removal of search results containing information like your driver’s license, passport, or Social Security number.
Google shares details about how to request the removal of personal data:
1. Go to the Results about you hub: You can access this tool in the Google app by clicking on your Google account photo and selecting “Results about you”, or by visiting goo.gle/resultsaboutyou.
2. Add your information: If it’s your first time, click “Get started” and add the personal contact information you want to monitor. You’ll then be prompted to add your government ID numbers. If you’re already using the tool, simply click to add your ID numbers and input the ones you’d like to monitor.
3. Let us handle the monitoring: Once you’ve confirmed your details, we’ll automatically keep an eye out and notify you if we find any Search results containing that information, so you can take action.
The removal of non-consensual explicit images is also something of an update rather than being something that is completely new. But the changes are significant, and will be welcomed by anyone who has found explicit images of themselves online.
Google outlines the changes that it is introducing:
A quick and straightforward removal process: To access this tool, click on the three dots on an image, select ‘remove result,’ then select ‘It shows a sexual image of me.’
Submit multiple images at once: You no longer have to report each image individually. This new tool lets you select and submit requests for multiple images from search results in a single, simple form.
Get ongoing protection: We understand that removing existing content is only part of the solution. For added protection, the new process allows you to opt-in to safeguards that will proactively filter out any additional explicit results that might appear in similar searches.
Find support resources when you need them: Immediately after you submit a request, you’ll find links to expert organizations that provide emotional and legal support.
Easily track your requests: You can now track the status of all your requests in one place in the “Results about you” hub. You’ll also get email notifications when there’s a change in the status of your request so you can stay up to date.
Google concedes that the tools it puts forward are not a perfect solution. The company notes that removal “from Google Search doesn’t remove it from the web entirely, but this is an important step in helping you stay in control of your online presence and keep your private information private”.
