Google has announced significant updates to its user privacy tools as part of Safer Internet Day, empowering individuals with greater control over their personal information found in Search results. The enhancements focus on expanding the “Results about you” tool and streamlining the process for removing non-consensual explicit images.
Expanding Personal Data Protection
The “Results about you” dashboard, which previously allowed users to request the removal of search results containing their phone number, email, or home address, has been upgraded. Users can now request the removal of results that include sensitive government identification numbers, such as a driver’s license or passport information.
Accessible via the Google app, the tool allows users to input the personal information they wish to monitor. Google will then automatically scan its search results for this data and notify the user if any matches are found, simplifying the process of keeping private information off the public-facing search engine.
While this update is initially rolling out in the U.S., Google has confirmed plans to bring the feature to more regions in the near future. The company emphasizes that while removing information from Search does not erase it from the web entirely, it is a critical step in safeguarding personal privacy.
Streamlining Explicit Content Removal
In a move with global implications, Google has also simplified the process for requesting the removal of non-consensual explicit images from its search results. Users can now click the three-dot menu on an image result, select “remove result,” and specify that it contains a sexual image of them.
Furthermore, the platform now allows users to submit requests for multiple images at once through a single form, a significant improvement over the previous one-by-one reporting method. All requests can be tracked in a centralized hub within the “Results about you” dashboard. For added protection, users can also opt-in to a new safeguard that proactively filters out explicit results that may appear in similar future searches.
Relevance For The MENA Region
While the government ID monitoring feature is launching in the U.S. first, its planned international expansion is highly relevant for the MENA region, where digital privacy is an increasingly important issue for consumers and businesses. The streamlined process for removing non-consensual explicit content, however, is a globally available update that offers immediate value to users across the Middle East and North Africa.
This enhancement provides a much-needed, easier pathway for individuals in the region to protect themselves from digital harm and harassment. For MENA’s founders and tech professionals, Google’s proactive stance on user data privacy sets a new benchmark, highlighting the growing expectation for digital platforms to provide robust and user-friendly safety tools.
About Google
Google is a global technology company specializing in internet-related services and products, which include online advertising technologies, a search engine, cloud computing, software, and hardware. It is considered one of the Big Five American information technology companies, alongside Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft.
Source: TechCrunch
