Article updated on March 31, 2025 by Byothe
Following a recent ruling (C131/12 – 13 May 2014) of the Court of Justice of the European Union requested search engines to give users the possibility to have search results that include their name removed, when the right to protection of the privacy of individuals prevails over the interest in presenting these search results.
Although it may seem difficult to objectively determine the notion of "the interest in presenting these search results", you should nevertheless know that Google has implemented a number of measures over the past few weeks: an online form allowing to request removal of search results.
So, to try to remove information that you consider personal from Google search results, you just need to: go to this form.
You will need to provide some essential information such as your name, an email address to contact you, the URL that is causing the problem and a scan of proof of your identity (ID card, passport, etc.).
On the first day of the service's launch, at the end of May 2014, Google received more than 12 requests from all over Europe, according to AFP!
It remains to be seen whether this service will prove effective or whether it is just a phantom mailbox!
Have you ever needed to remove compromising material online? How did you go about it?
Please react in the comments below.
Apparently this tool is quite controversial because the requests are pouring in (they can't keep up) and it is very complicated to prove the legitimacy of the request.
The tool exists but from what I read here and there there is not much after that.
No big surprise indeed...
Maybe they weren't sized enough for the influx of demand from the startup... or maybe they're hoping people will forget or get bored...