Google has recently made several updates to its Search platform with the aim of empowering users to have better control over their personal information that appears in search results. Last year, the company introduced a tool to assist individuals in removing search results containing sensitive details like phone numbers, home addresses, or emails. Now, Google has enhanced the effectiveness of the “results about you” tool.
In the near future, a new dashboard will be made available to users, notifying them whenever personal information is detected in Search results. Upon receiving an alert, users can promptly request Google to remove those specific search results.
Earlier this year, Google unveiled a Google One feature capable of scanning the dark web to identify if any user’s information was involved in a data breach. The “results about you” update appears to function similarly. Its proactive approach in finding and helping users remove search results containing their personal data should make safeguarding privacy more convenient.
Accessing the tool can be done through the Google app, where users can tap their profile photo and select “results about you,” or via a dedicated webpage set up by the company. As of now, the tool is available in English for users in the US, but Google has plans to extend its availability to other languages and regions soon.
In another step towards enhancing user control, Google is also updating its system to help users remove explicit photos of themselves. Previously, the option to request the removal of non-consensual explicit images from search results was provided. Now, Google is expanding this policy to include consensual imagery as well.
Suppose you had uploaded explicit content of yourself on a website but have changed your mind and no longer wish for it to be accessible. In such cases, you can now request Google to remove these explicit images from search results if they have been published without your permission elsewhere. However, the policy does not apply to any content that you are still commercializing.
It is not uncommon for owners of websites that host explicit content to report content from other sources. Although removing such content from Google Search results won’t erase it from the web entirely, it can make it more challenging for people to find. To initiate the removal process, you can look for “request removals” in the Google help center.
Moreover, Google is also rolling out updates for parental controls and SafeSearch. Starting this month, Google will automatically blur explicit imagery (adult or graphic violent content) in search results by default, a decision it announced earlier this year. Users will have the option to disable SafeSearch blurring from their settings, unless it is locked by a school network admin or a guardian on their account.
Finally, accessing parental controls from Search will now be much more straightforward. By entering queries like “google parental controls” or “google family link,” users will see an information box explaining how to adjust these settings. These updates aim to provide users with more control and a safer experience while using Google Search.
