- It also has stripped links to bank accounts and credit card numbers and medical records.
- It received tens of thousands of requests annually in recent years, approving about 13% of them.
- The company said it typically processes requests within a few days.
Google (GOOGL.O) of Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL.O) has begun to consider requests to remove search results containing people’s home addresses, phone numbers, and email accounts, marking the latest shift in the company’s attitude on personal privacy and information access as reported by Reuters.
Removing policies
The world’s most used internet search tool said on Wednesday that the expansion of its removal policies globally followed growing demand from users and evolving norms about the threat posed by easy access to contact details.
“They are increasingly unwilling to tolerate this content online.”
Until now, Google would only accept requests to remove web pages that shared contact info alongside some sort of threat or required payment for removal.
It also has stripped links to bank accounts and credit card numbers and medical records.
It received tens of thousands of requests annually in recent years, approving about 13% of them.
Excessive personal information
Older Google policies enable requesting takedowns of results directing to unwanted pornography and, in Europe, “inaccurate, inadequate, irrelevant or excessive” personal information.
Last year, Google began allowing the removal of photos of minors.
Chang said in weighing requests under the contact information policy, Google would aim to preserve the availability of data in the public interest.
It also will not remove information that “appears as part of the public record on the sites of government or official sources.”
The company said it typically processes requests within a few days.
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Source: Reuters
