Removing Defamatory Content from Google
If you've found content online that you believe illegally harms your reputation, this guide can help you understand how to request its removal from Google Search results.
I. What is Defamation?
In simple terms, defamation is a false statement that harms the reputation of a person or a business. While the core idea is similar worldwide, specific defamation laws vary from country to country. We carefully review each request to determine if content should be blocked in a specific location based on local laws.
II. Who Can Make a Removal Request?
Requests can be made by the person or business being defamed. You can also have a legal representative submit a request on your behalf, as long as they can confirm they are authorized to do so.
III. Before You Submit: Important First Steps
- Contact the content Owner First. The most effective way to have content removed from the internet is to contact the person who posted it. If the website owner removes the content, it will be gone from the web entirely, not just from Google's search results. Even if we remove a page from our search results, the original content still exists on the site and can be found through other search engines or direct links. You can learn more about how to contact a site's webmaster here.
- Gather Your Evidence. For us to process your request, your claim needs to be clear, specific, and well-supported. Please explain exactly why you believe the statements are untrue and how they are damaging your reputation.
- Avoid Duplicate Submissions. Please do not resubmit requests for URLs you have already sent. This causes significant delays for everyone.
- Is the Information in a Knowledge Panel? The box that sometimes appears with key facts about a person or company is called a Knowledge panel. This panel reflects publicly available information. If you see an error, you can click the "Feedback" link at the bottom of the box to suggest a correction. If the panel is about you, you can also claim the panel to suggest changes through a verified account.
IV. How to Submit Your Request
When you're ready, please fill out our webform. To help us make a decision quickly, be sure to include:
- The exact web addresses (URLs) of the content you want removed.
- A clear explanation of how the content is about you or your business.
- An explanation of why you believe the statements are false and, if not obvious, how they harm your reputation.
- A valid email address so we can contact you.
Providing as much detail and background as possible helps us evaluate your request effectively. If we need more information, we will email you.
V. How We Make a Decision
We have subject matter experts in different types of content and languages. We use automation to ensure your request is sent to the most appropriate reviewers. This automation also helps us manage the millions of URLs we receive daily, streamlining and complementing human review. Whether automated or manual, the reviewer will consider the public interest of the information and weigh it against your rights under applicable defamation law. To make a fair decision, we consider several factors:
Where does the information come from?
We look at the source of the content to understand its context.
- If the page is on a government site, we consider the fact that the government has decided to publish the information in question and make it available to search engines, on an ongoing basis. We defer strongly to such a decision. Government records play a vital role in keeping society informed of matters of public interest, and the government’s decision to keep publishing it is a strong indication that it considers the public interest to still exist.
- If the information is on a news site and authored as part of journalistic activity, journalists have decided that the content is in the public’s interest. We take into account the media’s journalistic judgements in determining which information is relevant and in the public interest, especially for more recently-published materials.
Is it true or false?
Your explanation of why the statements are untrue is a part of our review.
- We aren’t in a good position to evaluate whether claims about you are true or false. Unlike a court, we can’t call witnesses or take sworn evidence, and we don’t always know all the facts that could help a judge decide whether something is true or false.
- If it’s important for you to show that information is not true, please provide reliable evidence of that. For instance, if a court ruled in your favor in a lawsuit about the claims made against you, we would take that into account.
What is the impact on users?
We consider how the content affects not only you, but also the public's right to information.
- We think about whether people who come to Google Search to search for your name have an important interest in finding out the information at issue. For instance, if you provide professional services, reviews of those services by past clients are likely to be of legitimate interest to future clients.
- These factors are not absolute, and we consider all aspects of a case before making a final decision. If we don’t have all the information we need, we may ask you for more information. That information helps us understand how the various factors might affect your request.
VI. What Happens if Content is Removed?
We respect the territorial scope of the relevant laws in your location. If your request is approved, we will restrict access to the content on the Google service for the country where it is considered defamatory. If you wish to have content delisted under the laws of multiple countries, please specify each country you wish to have an assessment made for, and for each, explain why that country’s laws apply - including why you have a protectable reputation in that country.
Remember, this action does not remove the content from the original website or search results in other jurisdictions. The best solution is always to work with the website owner to have the material taken down permanently. Visit https://googlesupport.serverhump.com/websearch/answer/9109 to learn how to contact a site's webmaster and request a change.
If you pursue legal action against this site that results in the removal of the material, our search results will reflect this change after the next site crawl. If the webmaster makes these changes and you need us to expedite the removal of the cached copy, please submit your request using our webpage removal request tool.