Google has made available to users a tool that allows them to check if personal data appears in the results of its search engine and request its removal. This feature, called 'Results about you', is linked to the Google account and can be used both from the mobile app and from a specific website.
Control over personal information on the internet
The user must enter into the tool the personal data they wish to monitor. These include name, nickname, phone number, email address, and physical address. If a person has multiple phone numbers or different email addresses, they can add them all to expand surveillance.
The system performs periodic checks and notifies the user if it detects any of that data in the search engine results. The search for matches can last from a few hours to several days. Upon completion, a report is generated that the user receives by email or through a notification in the application.
Detailed report and withdrawal process
The reports collect the matches found and allow access to information about the web page where the data is located and the specific data identified. The user can request the removal of information from search results, even if the content is protected behind a paywall.
The process begins in the 'Remove result' option, selecting 'Show my personal information and I don't want it to appear' and then 'Contact information'. Google removes the web page URL from its results, although the data remains accessible on the internet outside the search engine.
New features and request tracking
Recently, Google has incorporated the possibility of searching for data such as Social Security number, passport, or driver's license, although this function is only available in the United States. The status of each request can be consulted in the tool itself, where it may appear as approved, denied, or canceled.
The data removal only affects Google search results, without deleting the information from the original web. The user thus maintains greater control over the exposure of their personal data on the internet.