Google Now Allows Us To Hide Personal Info Online, This Is How

For those who want Big Brother to back the heck up, this one is for you! have you heard that Google is now giving us the option to remove our phone numbers and address from internet search results. It's a novel new idea called privacy. This is how you make the change.

Photo credit, Unsplash: Pawel Czerwinski

When we start leaning on the convenience of certain inventions live voice-activated technology with Alexa or any of our smartphones the companies that provide these services know exactly what they are doing. They are making these advancements that are so helpful, we can't imagine living without them and in exchange, we have been letting them track more than we would probably like about our lives.

I just saw an update on Google’s blog that says we can now request to have our phone numbers, email addresses, and home address totally removed from all search results.

These Are The Steps To Remove Your Private Information From Google

1
Request Removal
First, you have to ask to have your private information removed. After Google has deemed that you qualify for this request (there are criteria), then you move on to the next step.
2
Look For Email Confirmation
You should get an email from Google saying that they are confirming your request.
3
You Wait While They Review Your Request
Each request is evaluated one by one. The criteria for successfully getting your information scrubbed from Google are reliant on these factors according to Google:
- Confidential government identification (ID) numbers like U.S. Social Security Number, Argentine Single Tax Identification Number, Brazil Cadastro de pessoas Físicas, Korea Resident Registration Number, China Resident Identity Card, etc.
- Bank account numbers
- Credit card numbers
- Images of handwritten signatures
- Images of ID docs
- Highly personal, restricted, and official records, like medical records
- Personal contact info (physical addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses)
- Confidential login credentials
4
Look For Notification Of Action Taken
You may or may not be successful in your attempt of privacy. Google says that if the submitted criteria noted above are found to be within the scope of their policy, either the URLs will be removed for all queries or the URLs will be removed only from search results in which the query includes the complainant’s name, or other provided identifiers, such as aliases.
If the request doesn't meet Google's requirements for removal, they will tell you why in that email. If your request is denied and you want to appeal you can. You can follow up with additional materials to support your case, and you can re-submit your request like we all have time to do that.

I used to be the person who said, "I don't have anything to hide so what is the big deal?" I've changed my mind. I don't have anything to hide but that does not mean I want people who do have something to hide to have my information. This world is getting harder and harder to navigate, so I hope these steps help you if you are trying to minimize your personal info output.

People are taking advantage of personal information all the time. Here are some of the most wanted in Ocean County, New Jersey. Have you seen them?