If damaging or unwanted content about you appears in Google search results, one of the most common questions we hear is: Can you get Google to remove it?
The answer is: sometimes. But understanding when and how Google will remove or deindex content from search results requires a deep understanding of their policies—and a strategic legal approach.
At National Security Law Firm, our attorneys pursue both direct platform removal (asking the site that hosts the content to remove or deindex it) and Google deindexing requests (removing it from Google’s search results) when applicable. Below, we explain in plain language the exact criteria Google uses to determine what content qualifies for removal and what doesn’t.
The Four Routes to Removal
At National Security Law Firm, we use four distinct strategies to eliminate or reduce the visibility of harmful online content. Each route targets a different mechanism of removal or suppression:
1. Website Removal
The most direct and complete outcome. If we convince the website to delete the content, it will eventually disappear from Google and other search engines. We can also speed this up by submitting a request to Google’s Outdated Content Tool.
2. Website Anonymization (Redaction)
If full deletion isn’t possible, some websites may agree to anonymize the content by removing or abbreviating your name. The content stays online, but it’s no longer tied to your identity in search engines.
3. Website-Initiated Deindexing (Noindex Tag)
Some websites will neither delete nor redact the content, but they may agree to add a “noindex” tag to the page’s code. This tag tells search engines not to index that page—effectively removing it from Google and other search results without deleting the page itself.
4. Google-Initiated Deindexing
Even if a website refuses all action, Google itself may deindex the page from its search results under very specific circumstances. These include revenge porn, doxxing, fake explicit content, exploitative practices, and certain legal violations. The content remains online and visible on the original site, but it won’t appear in Google Search. This article discusses the circumstances under which Google will remove content from search results in accordance with its content removal policies.
Personal Content That May Qualify for Deindexing by Google
Here are the personal content categories that Google currently allows for deindexing requests:
✅ Explicit or Intimate Personal Images (Revenge Porn)
Google may remove sexually explicit or intimate images that were shared without your consent. This includes:
- Real images that were originally private
- Photos or videos taken without your knowledge
Request here: Remove explicit or intimate personal images
✅ Non-Consensual Fake Explicit Images (Deepfakes)
Google will remove explicit deepfake images or videos featuring your likeness created without your consent.
Request here: Remove explicit non-consensual fake imagery
✅ Association with Irrelevant Sexual Content
If search results for your name are linked to sexual content that has nothing to do with you, you can ask Google to remove those results.
Request here: Remove association with irrelevant sexual content
✅ Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or Doxxing
Google may remove links that contain:
- Your home address
- Phone number
- Social Security number
- Government ID numbers
- Bank account or credit card info
- Medical records
- Login credentials (usernames, passwords)
- Or doxxing content that could incite harassment or threats
Request here: Remove PII or doxxing content
✅ Exploitative Removal Practices
Google targets websites that engage in extortion-like behavior, such as:
- Charging fees to remove content
- Reposting removed content on affiliated websites
- Using harmful SEO techniques to manipulate rankings
Request here: Remove content from exploitative sites
✅ Content Involving Minors (Non-Explicit)
If you are under 18—or are the parent/guardian of a minor—you can request removal of:
- Images of the minor
- Pages that mention the minor by name
Request here: Remove content about minors (non-explicit) or Remove explicit content about minors
Legal Grounds for Deindexing
Aside from the personal content categories above, Google will also remove content for legal reasons, including:
- Copyright infringement
- Trademark violations or counterfeit content
- Valid court orders mandating removal
You can initiate removal based on legal grounds through Google’s Legal Help Center: Google Legal Removal Request
If we secure a court order to remove content, we can submit it to Google and request full deindexing across all search results.
What Google Won’t Remove
There are many cases where Google will not remove search results, including:
- Legitimate news stories
- Public arrest records or court opinions
- Mugshots (unless tied to exploitative behavior)
- Content that does not meet their removal policy
In these cases, we focus on:
- Direct removal or noindexing from the site itself
- Persuasive policy arguments for redaction
Why Our Dual Approach Works
At National Security Law Firm, we pursue every available path:
- We contact the website or platform to seek full removal or noindexing
- We submit deindexing requests to Google (if applicable)
By working both angles—platform-side and search engine-side—we give our clients the best possible chance of eliminating unwanted content from the web.
What If the Website Has Already Removed the Content?
If the content has already been taken down, but the old link still appears in search results, we can use Google’s Outdated Content Tool to request a refresh.
Submit outdated content removal: Google Outdated Content Tool
How National Security Law Firm Can Help
Navigating Google’s removal policies is not easy. Our team:
- Analyzes whether your situation fits Google’s deindexing criteria
- Drafts and submits strategic removal requests
- Coordinates with platform administrators for site-based noindexing
- Pursues removal or deindexing on every viable front
We’ve helped hundreds of clients remove harmful content through persistent, policy-based advocacy. Our flat-fee, refund-guaranteed model ensures that you pay only when we succeed.
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