The company said earlier this week that it will let people
request that more types of content such as personal contact information like
phone numbers, email and physical addresses be removed from search results.
The new policy also allows the removal of other information
that may pose a risk for identity theft, such as confidential log-in
credentials.
The company said in a statement that open access to
information is vital, “but so is empowering people with the tools they need to
protect themselves and keep their sensitive, personally identifiable
information private.”
“Privacy and online safety go hand in hand. And when you’re
using the internet, it’s important to have control over how your sensitive,
personally identifiable information can be found,” it said.
Google Search earlier had permitted people to request that
highly personal content that could cause direct harm be removed. That includes
information removed due to doxxing and personal details like bank account or
credit card numbers that could be used for fraud.
But information increasingly pops up in unexpected places
and is used in new ways, so policies need to evolve, the company said.
Having personal contact information openly available online
also can pose a threat and Google said it had received requests for the option
to remove that content, too.
It said that when it receives such requests it will study
all the content on the web page to avoid limiting availability of useful
information or of content on the public record on government or other official
websites.
“It’s important to remember that removing content from
Google Search won’t remove it from the internet, which is why you may wish to
contact the hosting site directly, if you’re comfortable doing so,” it said. -AP