I just found Google's "Results About You" service, which purportedly helps you "find and remove personal contact info in Google Search results," as part of the report about Google EOLing the "Dark Web Report" service.
I entered my names and email addresses (which Google already knows really well by now). Two results showed up: one from an old mailing list that I have already forgotten about and one from a background check site. I requested removal for both items; both requests were denied more or less immediately. One is understandably an archive of an old mailing list (who thought about privacy and the info that could get back to you then), and the other is a background check service that shows both true and false information, addresses that I have already forgotten, relationships that don't exist, etc.
It's sort of useful to see that this info exists about me, some with details that I really don't like others having (and even I don't really have unless I start digging). It's somewhat upsetting that I can't do much to remove that info. Giving more information to Google (which G already has) also feels like buying something from a snake-oil salesman (not really; it's a "free" service).
Has anyone else had better experiences with this service? Has anyone been successful in removing the listed info? Like Google's other services, it probably has a good chance of heading to the graveyard in the future. If you think it might be useful, you might want to take advantage of it.
edited: remove the name of the background check site.
I entered my names and email addresses (which Google already knows really well by now). Two results showed up: one from an old mailing list that I have already forgotten about and one from a background check site. I requested removal for both items; both requests were denied more or less immediately. One is understandably an archive of an old mailing list (who thought about privacy and the info that could get back to you then), and the other is a background check service that shows both true and false information, addresses that I have already forgotten, relationships that don't exist, etc.
It's sort of useful to see that this info exists about me, some with details that I really don't like others having (and even I don't really have unless I start digging). It's somewhat upsetting that I can't do much to remove that info. Giving more information to Google (which G already has) also feels like buying something from a snake-oil salesman (not really; it's a "free" service).
Has anyone else had better experiences with this service? Has anyone been successful in removing the listed info? Like Google's other services, it probably has a good chance of heading to the graveyard in the future. If you think it might be useful, you might want to take advantage of it.
edited: remove the name of the background check site.
Last edited:
