New Google tool allow users to scrub more personal data to keep safe from online thieves
New York Post • • technology
Key Points:
- Google has updated its "Results about you" tool to allow users to remove more sensitive personal information from search results, including passport numbers, driver’s license numbers, and Social Security numbers, in addition to phone numbers, emails, and home addresses.
- The update comes amid rising identity theft concerns, with the FTC reporting 3 million fraud cases and $15.9 billion lost to scammers in 2025, highlighting the growing need for stronger online privacy protections.
- The new features, rolling out first to US English users, also include a faster way to remove non-consensual explicit images and an option to proactively filter out similar explicit content from search results.
- Users over 18 can remove explicit images by selecting “remove result” directly from the image options, while removal requests for minors require submitting a detailed form that triggers immediate scans.
- Google emphasizes that these tools are part of a broader effort to protect users from identity theft and online harassment by enabling greater control over personal information displayed in search results.
