March 30, 2026 Google has expanded its “Results about you” tool, allowing users to remove highly sensitive personal data, including passport numbers, driver’s licence numbers and Social Security numbers, from search results. The update comes as identity fraud losses hit $15.9 billion in 2025.
The feature builds on Google’s earlier tool that already let users remove phone numbers, email addresses and home addresses. It is rolling out first to US English users, with access available through a dedicated dashboard tied to a user’s Google account.
The change is less about new functionality and more about scope. By including government-issued IDs, Google is acknowledging that the types of data being exploited in scams have evolved beyond basic contact details. According to US regulators, fraud cases now frequently involve attackers using stolen identities to access services, open accounts or impersonate victims across multiple systems.
The process itself is relatively straightforward, as users can request removals directly from search results or through Google’s “Results about you” page, with guided steps to flag sensitive content. Once a request is approved, Google removes the result from its index, reducing how easily that information can be discovered.
Google has also updated how it handles non-consensual explicit images. Users can now flag such content directly from search results, and opt into safeguards that help prevent similar images from appearing again. These protections are currently limited to users over 18.
Importantly, this does not remove the data from the internet – only from Google Search. The original content remains on the hosting site unless separately taken down, which means the tool is focused on reducing visibility rather than eliminating exposure entirely.
The update does not solve the underlying problem of data exposure, but it does give users more control over how easily that data can be found. In a threat environment where discovery is often the first step in an attack, that control is becoming more important.
