Google's introduces new tool for removing your private info from search results

Privacy is still important.

The new tool at I/O makes it easier for people to request that the advertising giant remove personal data like their home address from search results. If you find your personal information in the search results, you can quickly tap and ask for it to be removed from the results.

You will be able to request the removal of your phone number, home address, or email address from the search results if you find them.

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The policy update in April expanded the types of personal data that can be removed from search results.

This tool allows you to request the removal of personal information from search, but it does not guarantee its removal, nor will it remove it from the site that is actually hosting the offending details. As most of the internet search engine traffic is done via Google, this tool packs a punch.

It is important to note that when we receive removal requests, we will evaluate all content on the web page to ensure that we are not limiting the availability of other information that is broadly useful.

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During a Monday press call, Ron Eden, the group product manager for Search, explained that requests for removal would be evaluated by a combination of algorithmic tools and humans. He didn't specify whether those results would be to their liking, but he said that requesters should see results quickly.

In the coming months, the new request-for-removal feature will be released in the Google app. The three dots next to the specific search results can be tapped to request personal data from the search engine.

Start searching for yourself, and put in those requests. It is never too early to protect your online privacy.