Opting out of unwanted Google search results is now simpler. Google’s Results About You tool, initially introduced in 2022, has received an update that streamlines the process of removing personal information from search results, including outdated content that is no longer relevant.

This update includes a new hub that displays search results related to you, but you must sign up to access this feature. Once you opt-in, Google will proactively monitor search results and compile relevant information in the hub for your review.

Additionally, Google has introduced the option to request the removal of specific search results when people search for you. By clicking the three dots next to a search result, a new menu option, “Remove this result,” will appear. You can select a reason for removal, such as the result showing personal information you don’t want to be published, being outdated, or having a legitimate reason for removal. Google will then review the request and remove the result if it meets the necessary criteria. You can also request that Google recrawl websites to obtain up-to-date information about you.

Google’s Results About You can be seen as a compromise between the company’s desire to collect and share information and the public’s growing desire for privacy. Although it’s not a legal right like the European Union’s Right to Be Forgotten laws, it provides an option to reclaim some of your personal information, as long as Google agrees with your request.

To opt-in to Google’s active web monitoring and request removals, you’ll need to sign up for Results About You. Here’s how:

• Sign into your Google account
• Select “Manage your Google Account”
• Select “Data & privacy”
• Open “My activity” and select “Other Activity”
• Scroll down to “Results about you” and tap or click “Manage results about you”

From here, you can set up your “Results About You” settings, including names, phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses you’d like to monitor. You can also set up notifications to choose how often Google updates you on results containing your information.

Once you’re signed up, you can access your results from the same dashboard. Keep in mind that Google may decline your requests if the information is deemed “valuable to the public.” However, it’s worth asking, as it’s one of the few options available.