If your personal information has ended up in Google's search results, you may want to do something to remove or hide it. There are several ways to go about this, and while not all of them may work all of the time, the following steps can help you protect yourself from potential privacy invasions.
- Contact the webmaster or website owner of the page.
If the personal information you want to remove appears on a public website, contact the owner of that site and inquire about their removal policy. Depending on the type of website, you may be able to request that the page be taken down or that the personal information be removed.
- Submit a request to Google.
Google has a process for requesting the removal of certain page types from their search results. If the page includes inappropriate content, hateful content, private or confidential information, or personal information, follow the instructions provided by Google to submit a removal request online.
- Make use of the “Do Not Track” technology.
“Do Not Track” is a privacy feature supported by many web browsers that prevent websites from tracking a user’s activity. Enabling this setting on your own browser won’t guarantee that your personal information won’t appear in search results, but it can help reduce the risk of it appearing in the first place.
- Adjust your online privacy settings.
To help protect your online information and privacy, adjust the settings on your social media accounts, browsers, and other accounts. Consider limiting the amount and type of personal data you share on public websites, and make sure to regularly review your own social media privacy settings.
- Request Data Erasure through a court order.
If the private information you want removed appears on a website hosted by a third-party, consider filing a legal complaint with the website owners. Within this complaint, you can request that all of the private data you want removed from the site, is permanently erased from Google's search results and records.
By taking a few precautionary steps or, if necessary, legal action, you may be able to remove your personal information from Google search results. It is important to understand your online privacy and safety, reminding yourself to regularly audit who is able to see and access your data. With the right instructions, you can take control of your personal information and make sure it is protected.