Managing personal information on Google Search is getting simpler

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Google has announced an update to its “Results about you” tool, designed to help users more easily remove personal information such as home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses from the Search results. 

The update introduces a new hub that simplifies the sign-up process for new users, making it more accessible for those who want to manage their personal data online.

Google simplifies personal info removal

Once users enroll in the service, the tool automatically scans Google Search for new instances of their personal information appearing in results. 

When it detects such content, it sends an alert and adds the relevant search results to the user’s hub for review. 

This centralized hub serves as a control center, allowing users to see all pending and previously approved removal requests in one place, ensuring transparency and ease of management.

Alongside the updated hub, Google has introduced a more streamlined method for users to request the removal of personal information directly from search results. 

Now, when users find a search result containing sensitive data, they can click on the three-dot menu next to the link. This updated menu clearly outlines what types of information are eligible for removal. 

If the content meets Google’s removal criteria, users can submit a request directly through the menu with just a few clicks, eliminating the need to navigate through separate request pages.

In addition to helping users remove personal information, Google addresses outdated search results. 

Sometimes, even after a website owner removes specific personal details, the old version may still appear in search results due to Google’s caching system. 

To fix this, the updated “Results about you” tool now allows users to request a refresh of outdated search results. 

Users can request Google to “recrawl” the page by selecting the same three-dot menu, ensuring that any removed personal data no longer appears in search results.

Have you had to manage personal information on Google Search before? Are you looking forward to this change? Tell us your thoughts and concerns in the comments, below, or via our Twitter or Facebook.