Google just expanded its Results About You privacy tool to help users find and request the removal of search results containing their government-issued identification numbers. The update, announced by Product Manager Phoebe Wong, marks the latest step in the company's effort to give users more control over sensitive personal information that surfaces in search results. The feature comes as data exposure concerns continue to grow and tech platforms face mounting pressure to protect user privacy.
Google is taking another swing at the privacy problem that's haunted search engines for years - your sensitive documents showing up where they shouldn't. The company's Results About You tool now scans for government-issued identification numbers, letting users spot and request the removal of search results that expose IDs like passports, driver's licenses, social security numbers, and national identification cards.
The expansion comes at a critical moment. Data breaches and accidental document exposures have surged, with identity theft complaints jumping significantly over the past two years according to Federal Trade Commission data. When sensitive IDs end up indexed in Google Search, they become potential goldmines for bad actors.
"Results about you tool now helps you find and request the removal of Search results containing your government-issued IDs," Product Manager Phoebe Wong announced in a blog post this morning. The statement signals Google's recognition that automated scanning needs to catch up with the types of sensitive data now circulating online.
The tool works by monitoring search results associated with your name and flagging pages that contain government ID patterns. Users get notifications when potentially sensitive results appear, then can submit removal requests directly through the interface. Google reviews each request against its removal policies before taking action - a process that typically takes several days but varies based on the complexity of the case.
