A personal information removal checklist

01

Inventory the exposure with minimal duplication

Record the exact URL and category of information: contact details, identification document, account credentials or another sensitive record. Do not paste full identification numbers into an ordinary tracking sheet. Use a short label and secure access for any necessary supporting evidence. Note whether a page is public or requires an account to view.

02

Choose the request route for each location

A website owner may control the original listing. A search engine handles its own results. Google permits requests for certain private information, subject to its policy and context. Read the current form before submitting so you know whose information is involved and what evidence is requested. A paid intermediary is not automatically necessary for an eligible self-service request.

• Prioritize credentials and sensitive identifiers for immediate protective action.
• Use the publisher’s genuine privacy or contact channel.
• Keep submission date, reference and outcome for each URL.

03

Confirm the result without assuming permanence

For example, a directory may remove a home address while another site continues to display a copied listing. Check both sources and the relevant search results. If an exposed password is involved, secure the account independently; deleting the web page does not undo access that may already have occurred. Schedule a proportionate recheck for important recurring exposures.

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