Google has announced changes to its search engine’s privacy policy to allow users to remove more personal and contact information from search results. Now users can ask Google to remove certain web pages from the search results that contain data that reveals their place of residence or gives access to any accounts.

Image Source: Pixabay

Google said in a statement that the company wants to provide people with new options in terms of privacy, because against the backdrop of the continuous development of the Internet, the possibility of finding someone’s phone number or address in search results can be dangerous. Users will reportedly be able to contact Google to remove a variety of information from Google, including social security numbers, bank card numbers, images of handwritten signatures, images of identification documents, personal medical information, and personal contact information (address, phone number, e-mail) and credentials for authorization anywhere. Google also promises to remove images of an intimate and pornographic nature, as well as scenes that show violence.

A user who wants to remove information about themselves from the search results must provide Google with a list of URLs that link to sensitive data, as well as search pages where relevant links appear. At the same time, the company reminded that deleting information from the Google search engine does not make this data inaccessible. Therefore, it will still be possible to access confidential information in other ways, for example, through another search engine.