Google Now Allows You To Remove Your Personal Information From Its Search Results



In the Internet era, the idea of personal privacy is a myth. With a few keystrokes, just about anybody can get your home address, phone number, email address, age, and the names of your family members. The fact that this information is readily available puts us all in the dangerous position of being the victim of fraud, stalking and violence. What makes the situation even worse is that our information was put online without our consent. The good news is that Google just made a big change that gives us a little more control over the use of our personal information. Now you can remove your personal information from Google’s search feature. When you perform a Google search, just visit the topic’s support page, scroll down, and click the “start removal request” link. As you follow the prompts, you will be able to specify the information that shows up in Search and will be asked to share a list of relevant search terms such as your full name, maiden name and nickname. You’ll also be able to share supplemental details before submitting the request. After your request is submitted, you should receive an email from Google confirming the request was received, though it’s unclear how long the removal process will take. The policy change follows a surge in online fraud, with the FTC reporting that consumers lost $5.8 billion to scammers in 2021, a 70% jump from the previous year.