Google has expanded its policy on delisting its personal data

Internet users can then submit a request to Google, but under certain specific conditions: the person must be the victim of threats or harassment in connection with the data disclosed online.

It is now possible to ask Google to remove from its search results pages that contain credit card numbers, a medical file or even a social insurance number, under these same conditions. The list of requests accepted by the web giant has been expanded to phone numbers, email addresses and postal addresses.

The goal is to reduce the risk of harassment associated specifically with the disclosure of confidential data by malicious people (doxxing).

The internet is constantly evolving – information can come out in unexpected places, with new ways to use it – so is our privacy policy [des utilisateurs et utilisatrices] it also needs to evolvesaid Michelle Chang, head of global policy at Google Search.

The latter clarified that the review of the pages brought to Google’s attention was intended not to dereference press articles, which could for example provide postal addresses that were in the public interest.

” We will also review whether such content appears in public documents, government sites or other official sources. If so, we will not proceed with the withdrawal. “

In an interview with the Reuters news agency, Michelle Chang indicated that 13% of delist requests were successful, a statistic she’d like to see inflated. He also clarified that the complaints were assessed within a few days.

Asking Google is a first step in removing personal data, but it’s not the end, as the information may remain accessible to other search engines. Michelle Chang encourages Internet users to interact directly with the site that hosts pages that reveal sensitive data.

To submit a delisting request to Google, visit the Search Engine Help Center website (New window).