Google can now notify when private contact information appears on the web

Google has unveiled a new feature that alerts users when their personal contact information, such as address, phone number, or email, appears in its search results.

This feature is accessible through Google's "results about you" dashboard, initially launched in September of the previous year. Through this dashboard, users can input their personal information, prompting the system to automatically scan websites for matches.

The dashboard then displays a list of web pages containing the identified information, enabling users to review each instance and submit a request for removal.

Prior to this update, users had to manually search for their personal information and then request that it be removed from Google search results. The new alert system simplifies this process by proactively notifying users when their contact information appears online.

Furthermore, users concerned about future appearances of their personal data can enable push notifications. These notifications will inform them whenever new search results containing their contact information are detected.

Additionally, users can track the status of their removal requests through Google's dashboard, which categorizes requests as in-progress, approved, denied, or undone.

While the feature enhances users' ability to manage their personal information, it's important to understand its limitations. Removing information from Google search results does not guarantee its complete removal from the Internet.

Google has specific criteria for the types of search results it can and cannot remove. The company won't take action on results from governmental or educational institutions.

As of now, this feature is being rolled out in the United States and is available in English. Google has indicated its intention to expand the feature to other countries and languages in the near future.