Google is set to introduce a series of Search updates aimed at empowering users to maintain control over their personal information, privacy, and online safety. The company's recent announcement highlights two key improvements: making it simpler for users to locate and eliminate search results related to themselves and updating policies concerning personal explicit content removal from Search.
To achieve this, Google plans to launch a new dashboard that notifies users if web results displaying their contact information appear on Search. Building on the foundation of last year's "Results about you" tool, this enhanced dashboard allows users to easily request the removal of search results containing their phone numbers, home addresses, or email addresses. The introduction of this new dashboard enables users to swiftly request the removal of their contact information from Google's Search platform.
To access this tool within the Google app, simply click on your Google account photo and choose the option labeled "Results about you." For now, this tool is only available in the United States and in English. However, Google is actively working on expanding its availability to new locations and languages in the near future.
Earlier this year, Google introduced a protective measure aimed at preventing inadvertent exposure to explicit imagery in Search results. As part of this update, explicit content, such as adult or graphically violent material, will now be automatically blurred by default. This new SafeSearch blurring feature is being rolled out to all users globally this month. While users can adjust their settings and disable this feature at any time, it may be locked by a guardian or a school network administrator.
Furthermore, Google is making it more convenient for users to locate parental controls directly through the Search function. By entering relevant search queries like "google parental controls" or "google family link," users will find an informative box explaining how to manage their parental control settings.
Despite already enabling users to remove nonconsensual explicit imagery from Search, Google is now extending the option to allow users to remove explicit content that they themselves have uploaded.
In a recent blog post, Google stated that they have long maintained policies allowing users to request the removal of non-consensual explicit imagery from their Search results. Now, the company is expanding these protections to enable individuals to remove any of their personal explicit images from Search that they no longer want to be visible. For instance, if someone created and uploaded explicit content on a website but later deleted it, they can now request Google to remove it from Search results if it appears elsewhere without their approval. However, it's important to note that this policy does not apply to content currently being commercially exploited.
It's essential to understand that removing content from Google Search will not automatically remove it from the broader internet or other search engines. Despite this limitation, Google aims to offer users greater control over their private information that may appear in Search results through these changes.
