Starting next year, Google will improve the “Results about you” tool – users will be sent notifications when a personal number, email or home address appears in the search.
Previously, Google said that it would speed up the process of removing personal information from search results – now you do not need to go to the support page and fill out a special form, just click the “three dots” in the search results line and submit a request directly. The tool started showing up for some users last week.
The company says the new notification system will be available to everyone – although it will be a particularly useful tool for people in high positions or those who are being harassed.
Early next year, you’ll also be able to opt into alerts if new results appear with personally identifying information, so you can quickly request their removal from Google Search… pic.twitter.com/AFQy8bpAkX
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) September 28, 2022
It’s worth noting that Google only removes search results, not the actual content on the web. The information will still be on any site that hosts it, but it will be harder for people to find it.
The About You Results tool also helps you track takedown requests with In Progress and Approved filters, as well as the ability to resubmit your request.
New alerts, which will launch as early as 2023, will allow you not to manually search for potentially harmful results with personal information in order to delete them, but to receive automatic notifications and immediately respond to them.
Source: The Verge