Additional forms of information, such as personal contact information such as a phone number, email address, or physical address, can now be requested to be removed from Google‘s Search results.
People can now request the removal of certain items from Google Search, with an emphasis on sensitive content that could hurt them directly.
“People can now request removals of more sorts of material when they encounter it in Search results, including personal contact information like a phone number, email address, or physical address,” Michelle Chang, Google’s Global Policy Lead for Search, said in a statement late Wednesday.
Additional information that may constitute a danger of identity theft, such as confidential information, and login credentials, can also be removed under the policy.
“It’s vital to keep in mind that removing anything from Google Search will not remove it off the internet, which is why you should contact the hosting site directly,” the company said.
In cases of doxxing, people have asked Google to delete sensitive, personally identifying information from Search, such as bank account or credit card details that could be exploited for financial theft.
“The easy availability of personal contact information on the internet can be startling, and it can be exploited in negative ways, such as for unwelcome direct contact or even physical harm,” Google added.
When Google receives removal requests, it says it will review all content on the website to make sure it isn’t obstructing the availability of other information that is widely beneficial, such as news items.
“We’ll also look to see if the content is part of the public record on government or official sources’ websites. We will not make removals in such instances “It was mentioned by the company.
