To Protect User Privacy, Google Set to Alert People of Search Results Showing Personal Info

Google will soon start alerting people if their personal information, such as phone numbers, home addresses, or e-mails show up in search results as part of its "results about you" tool.

This came as the search giant began rolling out the tool, which allows people to easily create takedown requests for results showing personal information.

The tool began appearing for some users in the last week.

Using this tool, people could see personal information posted on websites by Googling their names. If they see a site publishing personal information, they can click or tap on the three dots, and they should see a prompt to remove the information.

The tool, however, hasn't been rolled out to all users yet. When it is available, the tool will be able to request that the website be scratched off search results.

New Google Notification Feature Allows Users to Know if Search Results Bear Personal Info

Meanwhile, the upcoming feature will also allow users to opt into alerts for search results bearing their contact information so they can quickly request their removal. These notifications will be available early next year. Google also says the notification system will be opt-in. However, such a tool is something not what most people will still have to turn on. The tool is definitely best suited for individuals who hold high-profile positions or public figures targeted by harassment campaigns.

For the users who can access the tool, opening the Google app on Android and tapping your profile avatar in the top-right corner reveals a new "Results about you" menu item. This takes users to a page that shows how they can request the removal of Google Search results that contain phone number, home addresses, emails, or other personal information.

This tool is an addition to Google's efforts to safeguard the personal information of its users.

These include tools to delete your web and tracking information and a tool to blur your house on Google Street View.

These are notable attempts by Google, but since the information will stay online, someone can find your name, address, email address, and phone number using another internet browser. Many websites publish information gathered from public records, including past mailing addresses and phone numbers.

Notably, though, Google will only take down search results, not the content on the website itself. The information will still reside on whatever site publishing it. This information will just be more difficult for people to find.

Google Has Allowed People to Send Takedown Requests for a Long Time Now

Google has been allowing people to make takedown requests for these kinds of search results for a while now, and the ability to take down results that were intentional harassment or threats were available even longer, but it's seeking to have the process significantly easier to do. The results about you tool allow users to flag results with their personal info with a few simple button taps instead of looking for Google's specific help article carrying the link to the form.

It also offers users the ability to track such requests. When notifications for it are released next year, it'll be even more powerful because users don't have to manually seek out those harmful results to report them.