Google May Now Remove Search Results That Dox You (theverge.com) 18
Google says it's expanding the types of personal information that it'll remove from search results to cover things like your physical address, phone number, and passwords. From a report:: Before now, the feature mostly covered info that would let someone steal your identity or money -- now, you can ask Google to stop showing certain URLs that point to info that could lead someone to your house or give them access to your accounts. According to a blog post, Google's giving people the new options because "the internet is always evolving" and its search engine giving out your phone number or home address can be both jarring and dangerous. Here's a list of what kinds of info Google may remove, with the new additions in bold (h/t to the Wayback Machine for making the old list accessible): Confidential government identification (ID) numbers like U.S. Social Security Number, Argentine Single Tax Identification Number, etc, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, images of handwritten signatures, images of ID docs, highly personal, restricted, and official records, like medical records (used to read "confidential personal medical records"), personal contact info (physical addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses), and confidential login credentials.
For everyone? (Score:1)
I have to wonder if this new limitation on search results will be applied across the board, or only selectively... what if a major newspaper, for example, is publishing someone's' address and phone number? Would Google really de-index that page?
It would be nice to see Google searches limit results that pull up spreadsheets or databases of passwords, or even usernames... though I don't know how they could determine some random list of account names was doxing material or not.
Re: (Score:2)
An AC posted the rules down thread, and the answer to your question appears to be "no." The WaPo doxing you would likely be "newsworthy" and thus would not be removed.
So they'll ban searches from Intellius? (Score:3)
There are literally dozens of bogus reverse-phone lookup sites that pop into google search results, will they ban them or Intellius results?
Re: (Score:2)
If they are bogus reverse phone searches they don't really identify anyone, so they'd be fine.
Public-interest exception (Score:1)
From Google's rules for removal [google.com]:
What factors do we consider in our evaluation of each request?
We generally aim to preserve information access if the content is determined to be of public interest. This includes but isn't limited to:
Content on or from government and other official sources
Newsworthy content
Professionally-relevant content
Re: (Score:2)
Last one is the only legitimate one. For example, someone having public poor work history. I.e. used car salesman who got convicted for fraud.
That is professionally relevant for those that want to hire him for the same job.
Re: (Score:1)
Where does that info come from though? Is it from a sentencing order signed by a judge? Or some random yahoo on 4chan? If it's from the former, it's ok. If it's from the latter, it's obviously not. Also, if the conviction is later overturned and the accused exonerated, does the search result change?
I ask because there have been cases where false information has been found in credit checks that caused people to loose their livelihoods / be unable to get meaningful employment / etc. [talkpoverty.org] Some have even challenged
Re: (Score:2)
So if the sensitive information is your car's registered address from the DMV, your home address from the property tax collector, or your address and political affiliation from the elections office, it's considered to be of "public interest." Gee, thanks.
Google is dead (Score:2)
Don't worry, as no one will find it as it's buried under tons of garbage that companies paid Google to be placed at the top.
Kind of like trying to find a "viral video" on Youtube gets you a bunch of big media results and "KZXZ" and "WXXZ" news stations (also big media) so you can't get to the actual uncensored, unchanged to fit the popular political narrative original.
Ask Google to stop (Score:2)
Me: Google. Please stop allowing searches on my social security number.
Google: We don't know what your SSN is. So we are not able to block search results. Unless you give us that information.
Me: OK. It's 078-05-1120.
So, if I change my name to Smithsonian (Score:2)
Ah, the ostrich algorithm (Score:3)
So all your PII will still be out there, only you can't check any more whether there's something you need to deal with. OTOH all the bad guys will have no problems getting it.
So another boneheaded move from Google that ends up helping the bad guys more than it helps the victims.
... but only from your point of view (Score:2)