Google search can make it easier to find information, but it can also cause your personal information to surface in ways that seem intrusive or even dangerous. That’s why Google is rolling out new tools that give people more control over what is shown about them online.
The company says it is expanding its search removal capabilities to make it easier to remove sensitive personal information and offensive images that should never have been public.
How to remove personal information from search
Google’s Results About You hub now lets you find and remove search results that contain sensitive government-issued identification numbers. This includes things like passport numbers, driver’s license numbers, and other official ID information that could be misused if it appears online.
To use this feature, sign in to your Google Account and select “Results About You,” where you can enter the information you want to track. Google proactively searches for results that match your personal information and notifies you when it finds something.
From there, you can review each result and request removal directly from the tool. You can also submit a removal request manually if you come across sensitive information yourself. Google says it will review these queries and remove results that violate its policies.
How to remove offensive images from search
Google is also simplifying the process of removing offensive images, especially those shared without consent. You can now more easily request the removal of offensive images, for example by submitting multiple images at once instead of submitting separate requests.
Once an image is removed, Google also offers an option to proactively filter out similar explicit images from future search results to prevent similar content from appearing again.
You can now track all of your removal requests in one place through the Results About You hub, with email updates to keep you informed of status changes.
Google also points out that removing information from search doesn’t completely erase it from the internet, but can still go a long way toward protecting your privacy.
The update also comes as Google discontinues its dark web reporting, which previously alerted users if their name, phone number or email address appeared online as part of a data breach.
Google says these warnings haven’t always helped people take meaningful action, which the new removal tools are designed to address.
