Google Search seems like it can look for almost anything on the world wide web. Unfortunately, that may include your personal information, including your phone number and home address.
It can be frightening to think of what can happen when your sensitive information falls in the wrong hands. However, there is actually a way to remove this kind of data, otherwise known as personally identifiable info (PII) from Google Search.
This is how to do it if you are willing to go through the process:
What Qualifies as a PII You Can Have Removed from Google Search?
Before you begin the process of have your PII removed, you should first make sure that the information you want removed can be taken off to begin with. Here are the personal information that you can request for removal from Google Search as stated by Google:
- Bank account numbers
- Confidential government ID numbers that include but are not limited to your Social Security Number, China Resident Identity Card, etc.
- Confidential login credentials
- Credit card numbers
- Email addresses
- Official and restricted records such as medical records
- Phone numbers
- Photos of handwritten signatures
- Photos of ID documents
- Physical addresses
Should your request pertain to doxxing, Google will only remove your PII if it meets two requirements. One of which is that your contact information is present. The second requirement is that "There's the presence of explicit or implicit threats or explicit or implicit calls to action for others to harm or harass."
Both requirements should be met and not just one of them.
How to Begin the Removal Process
According to an article by Wired, you can start the removal process by visiting the appropriate support page. Next, click the blue button that says "Start removal request."
At some point, you will be asked what kind of information you want to be removed. Make sure to select "Personal info, like ID numbers and private documents." Once prompted, you can specify the PII that you want removed.
If the information you want removed is on a live website, be sure to also check the box that indicates that the information is indeed live. Google will then ask if the request you are making pertains to doxxing.
After all of that, you will be asked for your full name, email, and country of residence.
What Happens After You Submit a Request?
After you submit a removal request, you will first get an automated email confirmation. Google will then review your request and gather more information should it be necessary.
Once all of that is done, you will get a notification if any action has been taken.
According to Google, "If the submitted URLs are found to be within the scope of our policy, either the URLs will be removed for all queries or the URLs will be removed only from search results in which the query includes the complainant's name, or other provided identifiers, such as aliases."
Should your request does not meet the requirements, Google will explain why. You are free to re-submit a request should you ever have more documents.
