Google Makes It Easier to Remove Personal Info From Search Results

[iMac The Knife]

I just tested this. They removed the first result of the three I found within 7 minutes of me reporting it.

 

[Shirasaki]

Once something is posted on the internet, it is there forever somewhere on the internet 😳 .

Except, that data stored online is malleable and can be easily removed.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I totally believe that Google fully removes your information from their databases when you request they do so

totally

 

[collin_]

Yeah, let's make it as easy as possible for people to deindex information about themselves that they don't like. As if Google Search wasn't useless enough at this point

 

[turbineseaplane]

Yeah, let's make it as easy as possible for people to deindex information about themselves that they don't like. As if Google Search wasn't useless enough at this point

Wait a minute ... is it information about me?

I should get to have a say in where and what availability of that looks like, not some corporation

 

[Dylan33x]

Have you considered that this is a way for Google to learn that you, the person who's info is in the search result, is the "you" that is the Google account?

That makes this addition a much more nefarious thing than it may be on first glance.

Literally my first thought as I scrolled past the article

 

[Mousse]

The first option allows users to request the removal of information like phone number, email address, home address, credit card numbers, login credentials, and more, and if selected, Google will review the request and possibly remove the result.

Wait wut?!😳 How is that information available on Google search? That sort of information should never pop up on any search.🤨

 

[collin_]

Wait a minute ... is it information about me?

I should get to have a say in where and what availability of that looks like, not some corporation

I see where you're coming from. I just think the "personal info" one is going to be abused. Based on their description, you could, for example, get a whole page of forum posts delisted if you said "you can reach me at this email address" or something benign like that.

I think organizations like ProPublica, OpenCorporates, and Archive․org are likely to be targeted.

 

[Scoob Redux]

Google doesn't need confirmation if you're already logged in, as 90% of people are..plus they have your IP.

..but yea, I guess that's possible. Whatever the reason, I don't want to show on Google, at all.

Upon what do you base your 90% statistic? I've never logged into Google in my life, yet I use their search engine all the time. Why on earth would anyone "log into" Google?

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Upon what do you base your 90% statistic? I've never logged into Google in my life, yet I use their search engine all the time. Why on earth would anyone "log into" Google?

Gmail, YouTube, gapps, Google maps.

Obviously I'm talking about non-phone devices.

 

[thefrost]

That's funny Google would do that.