New Google tool allow users to scrub more personal data to keep safe from online thieves

Key Points:

• Google has expanded its "Results about you" tool to allow users to remove more sensitive personal information from search results, including passport numbers, driver’s license numbers, and Social Security numbers, in addition to phone numbers, emails, and home addresses.
• This update comes amid rising identity theft concerns, with the FTC reporting 3 million fraud cases and $15.9 billion lost to scammers in 2025, highlighting the growing need for enhanced online privacy protections.
• The new features are initially rolling out to US English users and include a streamlined process for removing non-consensual explicit images, allowing users over 18 to quickly request removal and opt-in for proactive filtering of similar content.
• For users under 18, Google provides a detailed removal request form that triggers immediate scans to help protect minors from exposure to harmful or sensitive content in search results.
• Users can access and activate these tools via myactivity.google.com/results-about-you, where step-by-step instructions guide them through the removal and protection processes.