What is the Right to Be Forgotten in Internet Searches

Frankie • May 27, 2020

It’s easy to unknowingly spill more personal information online than you intend to, especially when you post something that you may have forgotten in the past. All things online can resurface so long as there are people who know where to look, which is why it can be frightening to live in a digitally-oriented world. 

Fortunately, the recent privacy breaches and scares paved the way to respect the privacy of internet users in 2018, at least only in Europe. Officially known as the “right to be forgotten” or the “right to erasure,” the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) makes it possible for people to ask organizations to delete their data in search results. 

What is the Right to Be Forgotten? 

Under Article 17 of the GDPR, the right to be forgotten means that individuals have the right to obtain personal data without undue delay. At the same time, the controller of the information also must erase the personal data without undue delay.   

Putting “undue delay” into context, it is usually within a month. However, there are specific circumstances that make people eligible for the right to be forgotten. This includes the following: 

  • The right to be forgotten applies when the personal data collected is no longer relevant to the organization. 

  • If the organization relies on the consent of an individual regarding the processing of data, and the said subject withdraws their consent. 

  • If the organization is processing an individual’s data based on legitimate interests. When the individual objects, the organization must erase the data when there are no possible ways to override the legitimate interests.

  • If the organization has captured and processed personal data unlawfully. 

  • Organizations must erase personal data to comply with a legal ruling or obligation. 

What Exactly Can Search Engines “Forget” in the Right to Erasure? 

The data is not necessarily clear since it refers to any personal information that is inadequate, irrelevant, or no longer relevant to the purpose in which it was processed. Fortunately, the EU data protection authorities have cleared up the criteria by saying it involves any public role the individual played online, whether it is related to private life or sensitive information on a business. 

However, keep in mind that only searches on the individual’s exact name can be the right to be forgotten applied. If another qualifying term is added to the search, let’s say a location, then it does not apply. 

The Bottom Line: Google Gives You the Right to Conceal Your Information 

Leaving personal or sensitive information online often feels like a risk. Still, if you’re living in Europe, then you have the benefit of removing your data so long as you pass the criteria. 

In your right to be forgotten, search engines like Google, Yahoo, Bing, and more are required to consider removing any links or data that is inaccurate, inadequate, irrelevant, or excessive when a right to be forgotten request file is submitted. 

If you’re looking for online content removal services to help you leave the internet, look no further; we are one of the fastest growing online image management company!

How to Remove Negative Content from Google Search (Step-by-Step Guide)

By Frankie Lee • August 18, 2025
Introduction: Why Google Results Control Your Reputation When people want to learn about you or your business, they don’t ask you directly — they Google you. A single search result can mean the difference between: Winning or losing a client. Closing or missing an investment deal. Being trusted or being doubted. In today’s world, Google is your first impression. And when negative content shows up — whether it’s a bad review, a defamatory article, or an embarrassing old post — it can feel like your reputation is being hijacked. That’s why millions of people search for terms like “remove content from Google” or “delete Google results.” The problem? Google doesn’t make it easy. This guide gives you a step-by-step framework to understand your options, protect your name, and take back control. Step 1: Understand What Google Can (and Can’t) Do Before learning how to remove Google search results, it’s crucial to understand how Google works. Google doesn’t own the content: It simply indexes web pages published on other sites. Two main strategies exist: Remove at the source (delete the content where it was published). Remove from Google’s index (de-index it so it won’t show in search results). 👉 If the content is deleted at the source, Google will automatically update. But if it remains live, you’ll need to request a removal from Google (which only applies in specific cases). Step 2: Identify the Type of Negative Content Different types of harmful results require different strategies. Let’s break them down: 1. Defamation False statements that harm your personal or business reputation. Example: A blogger writes that you scammed clients without evidence. 2. Copyright Infringement Someone stole your images, text, or videos. Example: A competitor copies your website and publishes it. 3. Personal Information Exposure Doxxing, revenge porn, or exposure of addresses, phone numbers, bank accounts. Example: A forum publishes your private details. 4. Fake Reviews or Complaints Competitors or anonymous attackers leave fake reviews. Example: 1-star Google Business reviews from accounts that never used your service. 5. Negative Press or News Coverage News articles, blogs, or opinion pieces that damage your reputation. Example: An old article resurfaces about a legal dispute, even after it’s resolved. Step 3: Attempt Removal at the Source (Most Effective) The gold standard is to delete the content where it lives. How to Remove at the Source: Find contact information: Look for a “Contact Us” page. Use WHOIS lookup if the owner is private. Request removal politely: Be professional and clear. Explain why it should be removed (e.g., false, outdated, violating rights). Escalate legally if needed: Send a legal demand letter. File a DMCA takedown for copyright. Engage an attorney if it’s defamatory. 💡 Pro Tip: When content is deleted at the source, it’s the fastest and cleanest solution. Google will automatically remove it when it re-crawls the site. Step 4: File a Removal Request with Google If source removal isn’t possible, your next option is Google’s own removal tools. Google Offers Removals For: Outdated Content Tool: If the page is deleted but still shows in search. Legal Removal Requests: For defamation (in certain jurisdictions), copyright, and sensitive personal info. Revenge Porn & Explicit Imagery: Google prioritizes urgent takedowns for non-consensual media. Financial or ID Information: Bank details, ID numbers, or hacked data. 👉 Submit requests via Google’s Content Removal page . Be aware: Google will not remove content simply because it is negative. It must violate a policy or law. Step 5: Suppress Results When Removal Isn’t Possible Some content simply cannot be removed — for example, accurate news articles or protected opinions. In those cases, the strategy shifts to suppression. What Suppression Means: Suppression = pushing negative results off page one by ranking positive, optimized content above them. Suppression Tactics: SEO for owned assets: Optimize your website, blog, and social media profiles. Content creation: Publish articles, press releases, interviews, YouTube videos, podcasts. High-authority platforms: Build LinkedIn, Crunchbase, Medium, Quora, and other strong profiles. PR & media coverage: Secure features that rank in Google News and top publications. Since over 90% of users never click past page one, pushing harmful content to page two makes it practically invisible. Step 6: Ongoing Monitoring and Protection Reputation management is not a one-time fix. New threats can appear anytime. How to Stay Protected: Set Google Alerts for your name or brand. Track reviews across Google, Trustpilot, SiteJabber, etc. Use professional monitoring services to get alerts and immediate takedown action. At ContentRemoval.com, we provide continuous monitoring and monthly removal services so you’re never blindsided by sudden attacks. Step 7: When to Hire a Professional Some removals are straightforward. Others — like fighting with major news publishers, suppressing viral Reddit threads, or negotiating with review platforms — require expert intervention. Professional content removal experts can: Navigate Google’s complex policies. File successful DMCA, defamation, and privacy removals. Negotiate directly with publishers. Combine legal, SEO, and PR strategies into one solution. If your reputation, business revenue, or peace of mind is at stake, hiring a professional is the fastest, most reliable way to protect yourself. Case Studies (Proof Section) Case Study 1: Entrepreneur Attacked Online Problem: 42 defamatory blog posts damaging credibility. Solution: ContentRemoval.com secured takedowns on 31 and suppressed the rest. Result: Entrepreneur rebuilt reputation and closed $3M funding round. Case Study 2: CEO with Negative Press Problem: Old news coverage ranking on page one. Solution: 90-day SEO + PR campaign. Result: Positive stories ranked, pushing the negative to page three. Case Study 3: Company Flooded with Fake Reviews Problem: Competitor attack using fake Google reviews. Solution: Removal requests + review platform escalation. Result: 85% of fake reviews deleted, average rating restored. Conclusion: Taking Back Control Your online reputation is one of your most valuable assets. Negative Google search results don’t have to define you. Best case: Remove content at the source. Next best: File a removal request with Google. If all else fails: Suppress the results with SEO and content. 👉 The longer harmful results stay online, the more damage they cause. That’s why ContentRemoval.com exists: to help people like you remove, suppress, and protect their online reputation with proven strategies.
Reputation Management Australia

Online Reputation Management - Your Customer Said What About Your Business?

By Frankie Lee • March 7, 2021
If you own a business in today's modern world, you know that it's no longer a question of whether you have an online presence or not. It's now a matter of what that online presence is. You need to know how people perceive your brand and whether that perception matches the one you want established. It's not wise to just let things fall where they may when your online reputation is involved. Businesses can't just let other people determine what their brand is, they should be the one on top of it controlling the narrative.