Buzz
The ultimate manual for scrubbing your personal details off Google and Bing
If you've entered your name into a well-known search engine, you might have been taken aback by the surplus of information—especially if your name is distinctive! Perhaps you're a business owner who was dismayed to find negative feedback, or stumbled upon your complete name and address freely available for all. While immediately erasing your name from internet search results is nearly impossible, there are a few measures you can take to increase the difficulty of locating your information.
Essential Knowledge
- Securing your social media networks is imperative—eliminate your name from Twitter and deactivate Facebook's profile indexing option for search engines.
- Directly reach out to websites, particularly people finder platforms, to request the removal of your name.
- Depending on the nature of the problem and your jurisdiction, you may have the option to submit a removal request to Google.
Steps to Follow
Securing Your Social Media Presence
Keep your Facebook profile hidden from search engines. Usually, when someone looks up your name on Google or Bing, your Facebook profile pops up among the top results. Thankfully, Facebook offers a feature to conceal your profile from search engines. Although it might take a couple of days for the changes to reflect, it's an effective way to enhance your privacy.
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On a computer:
- Sign in to Facebook and click the downward triangle ▼ at the top-right corner.
- Navigate to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Privacy.
- Scroll down to the section labeled 'Do you want search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile?'
- Click Edit and choose No.
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On a phone or tablet:
- Launch the Facebook app and tap the three-line menu ☰ at the top-right or bottom-right corner.
- Select How People Find and Contact You.
- Tap Do you want search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile? and opt for No.
- This action solely prevents your personal Facebook profile from appearing in Google, Bing, and other search engine results. However, if you've made public posts or comments on Facebook Pages or groups, they might still surface on Google. If that occurs, follow the link and edit or delete your post/comment as necessary.
Ensure your tweets are private. Is your name search revealing your tweets or Twitter profile? You can set your tweets to private to prevent them from showing up in search engine results. While your existing followers (and any new ones you approve) can still view your tweets, they won't appear in search engines. This might make it tougher to attract new followers, but it safeguards your content.
- Log in to your Twitter account via your computer, phone, or tablet.
- On a phone or tablet, tap the three-line menu at the top-left corner. On a computer, click More in the left column.
- Access Settings and privacy.
- Choose Privacy and safety.
- On a phone or tablet, switch 'Protect your Tweets' to the On position. On a computer, click Audience and tagging and check the box beside 'Protect your Tweets.'
Modify your name on social platforms. Your close contacts on social media likely recognize you by name, so changing it can help obscure your profiles from search engines. This proves trickier on Facebook due to their real name policy, which mandates using your government ID name. However, Twitter or Instagram allow you to select any desired name.
- Twitter: Visit your profile, click Edit profile, and amend the content in the 'Name' field.
- Facebook: Click the downward arrow at the top of the page (or tap the three-line menu on mobile), access Settings & Privacy > Settings, tap Personal and Account Information (mobile only), and adjust the content in the 'Name' field.
- Instagram: Head to your profile, tap Edit Profile, and update the content next to 'Name.'
Eliminate dormant accounts. Occasionally, signing up for a website generates an online profile that may surface in search engine results. For instance, if you have an Amazon.com account, individuals might locate your wish list, reviews, and other details by searching your name. The most effective approach is to delete inactive online accounts and fortify those you do use.
- Recall the online platforms you've registered on (or scan your email for receipts). Log in to any unused sites and either update your name or delete your profile.
- If you've joined online forums like service help forums or discussion boards, your posts and profiles could emerge in searches for your name. If you're unsure which forums or groups you've joined, search your email for 'Welcome to' or similar phrases.
Managing Personal Data
Understand what Google allows removal of. While Google doesn't often remove content from its search results, there are specific cases where you can request removal. These include sensitive information like social security numbers, bank account or credit card numbers, images of your signature, personal photos uploaded without consent, or the association of your business with adult spam.
- Keep in mind that this action doesn't erase the content from the internet; it remains accessible by visiting the respective website. To completely remove such content, you'll need to contact the website owners directly.
Access Google's removal tool. If you fit into any of the aforementioned categories, you can complete a form to request the removal of the offending URL from Google's search results. Begin the process by visiting this Google support page.
Opt for 'Remove information you see in Google Search'. You'll be asked to indicate whether the page with the content is still online or not.
Choose the specific content you wish to eliminate. Google will display a comprehensive list of the content types it can remove from search results. After selecting the desired information type, a detailed form will appear for completion.
Complete the form. You'll need to provide the URL of the site, along with your contact details. Additionally, provide the URL of the search results page where the content appears. Once the form is filled out, it will undergo review.
- If Google confirms that the site is displaying your personal data without consent, it will remove the URL from its search results. Note, however, that this action does not delete the content from the web; it can still be easily accessed and shared via social media. To remove the content entirely, you'll need to approach the site owner, the hosting provider, or resort to legal avenues.
Contacting Website Owners
Conduct self-searches. Another essential step is to check if your name appears on various websites. Utilize different search engines to search your name, incorporating modifiers like your location to refine the results. Take note of the top search outcomes for each engine.
- Aside from Google, ensure you search for yourself on other platforms such as Bing and DuckDuckGo.
- Remember, search engines merely index existing web content; they're not responsible for your name appearing.
Locate the website's contact details. Many websites list their contact information in the 'Contact' section or within the site's footer. Use this information to reach out to the site owner and request the removal of content featuring your personal data.
- If the website where your name appears is operated by a name indexing entity, you might find a removal request form available.
- If no contact information is provided, consider using WHOIS, a domain registry database, to search for contact details. Note that if the domain is privately registered, your request may be forwarded to a proxy company.
Compose a respectful message. If content associated with your name is posted on a domain beyond your control, such as a blog post on someone else's site, a courteous email can be effective. Politely request the removal of your name from their site. Remember, while they're not obligated to comply, courtesy significantly improves the chances of a positive response.
- There's a misconception that publishing defamatory or slanderous content is illegal. However, legal determinations regarding defamation are intricate. Furthermore, in the US, website owners generally aren't liable for user-generated content, meaning they're not legally obligated to remove it. Nevertheless, a polite request could persuade them to take action, depending on the website.
Utilize the Google site removal tool after content removal. Even after the site owner removes content, it might persist in Google's search results. To expedite its removal, you can request the URL's removal from search results using this form.
Reach out to 'people finder' and '411' websites. Numerous online directories might contain your personal details like name, phone number, and address. You'll need to submit removal requests to these directory sites individually. Notable directory sites include Intelius and Spokeo.
- Consider using services like DeleteMe to streamline removal requests to all directory sites. While it incurs a cost, it can be a time-saving option for thorough removal.
Communication with Hosting Providers
Identify the hosting service. Utilize WHOIS search to locate the website's host. Hosting providers possess the authority to remove pages, especially if they violate hosting terms and policies. Most hosts prohibit defamatory or slanderous content, providing an avenue to remove your information. Contact the hosting service if the site owner is unresponsive or unwilling to remove the content.
Submit the request to the hosting service. Send a courteous yet firm message to the host's contact address. If possible, outline specific policies that the offending content violates. Trustworthy hosts typically act upon legitimate claims, prompting action in response.
Submit a DMCA takedown request. If your copyrighted content is being unlawfully posted, you can file a DMCA takedown request with the hosting provider. Although this won't apply to personal information, it can effectively prevent unauthorized dissemination of your work. Some hosting companies offer specific links for reporting copyright infringements, while others require messages to be sent to standard contact addresses.
- Refer to How to Write a DMCA Take Down Request for comprehensive instructions on drafting and sending the request.
Enhancing Your Search Results
Recognize when to adopt this strategy. If efforts to remove negative information about you prove futile, consider counteracting it by promoting positive content. This may involve actively increasing your online presence instead of seeking to remove your name, aiming to generate numerous positive search results.
Join all major social networks. To overshadow negative content, focus on generating neutral and positive content. Social networks are often prominently ranked in search results, making it crucial to sign up for and maintain accounts on all major platforms with public visibility.
- Register accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, and other popular networks.
Establish profiles and engage in public forums. Create profiles on platforms such as Quora, GitHub, and Stack Exchange, among others. Active participation on these platforms contributes to your search results. After creating a profile, contribute valuable content to popular threads to increase the likelihood of your name appearing in search results.
Secure your actual name as a domain. This will prominently feature in searches for your name due to its exact match.
- Additionally, link this domain to your public social media profiles. Increased external linking boosts its search ranking.
- Utilize this opportunity to promote yourself or your business. Incorporate positive information, especially if you aim to overshadow unfavorable content.
Initiate a blog. To significantly impact your search results, a well-established blog is invaluable. While time-consuming, it's one of the most effective methods to bury negative articles or pages. Begin a blog for free using platforms like WordPress, Squarespace, or others. Aim to post at least weekly to gradually build content.
Solicit positive reviews from satisfied clients. If managing a business and seeking to mitigate a negative review, encourage content customers to leave reviews on platforms such as Yelp or Google+. A plethora of positive reviews can swiftly overshadow a negative one.
Practice patience. It may require weeks or months for your content to surpass the negative piece, particularly if it's widely viewed. Even with paid services, altering search result rankings typically demands a considerable timeframe.
Utilizing 'Right to be Forgotten' (EU)
Access the European search removal page. If you're within the European Union, Google may assess your data to determine if it qualifies for removal from search results. Complete a form specifying the results you wish to eliminate. Note that not all requests will be accepted, especially for public information like criminal records, malpractice, and financial fraud.
- Commence the request process on the form page.
Complete the form. Input your name and the relevant search terms. Additionally, provide URLs for the search results you seek to remove. Each URL requires an explanation for removal justification (outdated, irrelevant, objectionable, etc.).
Await request approval or denial. If the data isn't deemed of public interest, Google will eliminate it from search results. Expect a review period for your request, followed by processing, which may take some time.
Initiating Legal Measures
Recognize when legal action is warranted. If both the site owner and host refuse content removal, legal recourse might be necessary. This is most effective if either party operates within your country.
- Remember, legal action is applicable only if the content is illicit (slanderous, defamatory, copyright infringement). Merely posting your name online isn't illegal.
Seek legal counsel for an 'intent to sue' notice. This economical option often compels recipients to remove the content. Engage a lawyer for a few hours to draft and send the notice to both the site owner and hosting company.
Pursue a court order. Consider this costly measure only if you're certain the content is illegal. Legal expenses apply unless you prevail and the opposing party covers costs. Consult with a lawyer to assess the suitability of this action. Obtaining a court date may prove challenging if the host operates from another country.
- Refer to How to Get a Court Order for guidance on filing.
Guidelines
Cautions
- Immediate and permanent removal of content from the Internet is nearly impossible. Adjust your expectations regarding what can feasibly be eliminated from search results to mitigate frustration and concern.
