Google Helps Find and Remove Your ID from Search
▼ Summary
– Google is expanding its “results about you” tool to allow the removal of sensitive documents like driver’s licenses, passports, and Social Security numbers from search results.
– The tool lets users see search results containing their personal data and request its removal, with the information protected by advanced encryption.
– Users can sign up for notifications when Google detects new search results containing their personal information, though it doesn’t remove data from the web entirely.
– Google is also enhancing tools to combat nonconsensual explicit images, allowing users to request removal directly from image search results.
– The update for sensitive documents is rolling out first in the US, while the image removal feature is coming to most countries in the coming days.
Google is enhancing its suite of privacy tools, giving users more control over their personal information in search results. The tech giant has announced a significant expansion of its “results about you” feature, which now allows individuals to request the removal of highly sensitive data like driver’s licenses, passport numbers, and Social Security numbers from Google Search. This builds upon the existing ability to remove phone numbers and home addresses, offering a more robust defense against doxxing and identity theft.
The process is designed to be user-friendly. After adding your personal details to the tool, Google will display search results where that information appears. You can then review each instance and submit a removal request directly. The company emphasizes that data entered into the tool is secured with advanced encryption. A particularly useful function is the option to set up proactive notifications; Google can alert you if it detects new search results containing your private data, allowing for quicker action. It’s crucial to understand, however, that this process only removes the information from Google’s search index. The original source on the web remains, meaning you may need to contact the hosting website directly for complete deletion.
In a parallel update focused on image-based abuse, Google is strengthening its measures against nonconsensual explicit content. The process for reporting such images has been streamlined. Users can now click the three-dot menu on an image in search results, select “remove results,” and choose the specific option stating, “It shows a sexual image of me.” Furthermore, the updated system permits the reporting of multiple offending images simultaneously. Perhaps most importantly, users can opt into a protective setting that will proactively filter out similar explicit results from future searches, helping to prevent re-traumatization. This feature is slated to roll out to most countries worldwide in the near future.
These expanded tools represent a meaningful step in empowering users to manage their digital footprints. While they don’t erase data from the internet entirely, they provide powerful levers to minimize exposure and risk on the world’s most dominant search platform. The updates to the “results about you” tool are launching first in the United States, with plans for a broader international expansion following the initial rollout.
(Source: The Verge)
