Khaberni - In a new step to enhance digital privacy, Google announced expanded updates to its tools dedicated for protecting user data, coincidentally with the events of "Safe Internet Day", where it provided broader capabilities to delete sensitive information and unwanted images from search results.
The company explained that the "Results About You" tool previously allowed the removal of search results that include personal data such as phone numbers, email addresses, or home addresses, but the new update has expanded the scope of protection to include more sensitive information, such as driver's license numbers, passports, and social security numbers, according to "TechCrunch".
Ways to access the tool
Users can access the tool through the Google app by clicking on the personal account image, then selecting the "Search results about you" option.
If using the tool for the first time, the user is asked to start setting it up by adding the personal contact data they wish to monitor, along with entering government ID numbers.
As for existing users, they can simply update their data and add the information they want to follow.
Automatic monitoring
Once the data is confirmed, Google begins automatically monitoring search results and sends notifications to the user whenever any results include their personal information.
Although removing results from the search engine does not mean completely deleting the content from the internet, the company confirms that this step is an effective means to limit the spread of sensitive data and enhance privacy protection.
Gradual rollout
The update is scheduled to be rolled out gradually, starting in the United States in the coming days, and will later reach other regions around the world.
Removing inappropriate images
In related news, Google announced the facilitation of the process to remove non-consensual explicit images from search results, as users can now easily submit a deletion request by clicking on the three dots next to the image, then choosing "Remove result", and selecting the option "This image involves inappropriate content of me".
The company also introduced a new feature that allows users to select multiple images and submit a collective deletion request via a single form, with the ability to track the status of the requests through the "Results About You" center.
Google confirmed in an official post that the removal of current content is only part of the protection system, noting that the new updates include preventive measures that work to filter any explicit results that may appear in the future in similar searches, in an attempt to provide a safer digital environment for users.
