What Does Google Know About You?
Google’s “Results about you” feature is a privacy-focused tool launched in 2022 to give users control over their personally identifiable information (PII) appearing in Google Search.
What it does
It will search and monitor your personal info. Input details like name, phone, email, or home address into the tool. Google then scans Search results for matches, and you receive alerts via email or push notification when something surfaces.
You can request removals. Found a result revealing your personal data? Click the three-dot menu next to it, choose “Remove result,” and submit a removal request. Google evaluates it based on policy and, if approved, removes it from search results for all users.
It feels proactive, not just reactive. A redesigned dashboard now simplifies sign-up and enables ongoing proactive scanning. It even supports requests to “Update result” when information has changed at the source site.
What it doesn’t do
It doesn’t delete content at the source: If Google removes a result, the content still exists on the original website. You’d need to request removal directly from the publisher.
It also doesn’t remove all content types: Google may deny removal of content deemed valuable to the public (e.g., news articles, public records) based on policy guidelines.
Benefits
- Raises awareness: You’ll know when your PII appears in Search results.
- Streamlines privacy: Simplifies the process to monitor and act on your digital footprint.
- Empowers users: Gives proactive control over personal data visibility online.
Get Started
- On the Google mobile app: Tap your profile picture → “Results about you.”
- On the desktop: Visit Google’s “Results about you” page → sign in → enter your info → choose alerts and start monitoring.
In summary, “Results about you” is Google’s attempt to give users ongoing oversight and quick access to remove personal data from search results—but it’s not a universal deletion tool for content from the web.