How to report to Google to remove content or a website? step by step guide

Unfortunately, not all webmasters use the Internet for beneficial purposes. There are many webmasters who take advantage of technology to obtain their own incomeas well as to harm the reputation of people.

Inside the Google philosophy Transparency is found as one of the fundamental pillars of the technological community. This is why it provides different tools to report situations in which people’s private data is affected.

We will deal in this post with all the reasons why you can report to Google, as well as we will explain the steps you must follow to litigate content that defames your image. Also, if you have been a victim of phishing We will also deal with this topic.

What kind of complaints can I make to Google regarding content or a page?

The empire that this computer giant has formed is based on its philosophy, which establishes that respect for the original content makes users value Google. Because of this, the platform has strict rules on privacy and website activities.

Thereforeany website administrator who violates one of these conditions is violating Google’s community terms. To do this, Google encourages you to report misuse.

If you want to know what kind of situations you can accuse, we present below the most important:

phishing

This is an activity that focuses on fooling people. Their scams can be by any method that gains a user’s trust to reveal sensitive information so they can use it for the cybercriminal’s benefit.

A very common technique is to steal credit card numbers by posing as a secure page. Namely, users confidently enter a website They think it belongs to a serious entity, but in reality they do it to a site created by a hacker.

If you know pages that carry out this type of activity, you can report them with the tools offered by Google.

personal defamation

When a web page write negative things against fame or good honor of a person is committing defamation on that person. Therefore, if you find sites that carry out this type of activity, you should notify Google of this situation.

Inappropriate use of my image

You must not forget that the personal image is a property right that belongs to the same person or to whom she attributes. Therefore, there are contracts that authorize the use of personal images (they can be express or implied).

When a site has not requested an express request to use your image, you can file a report with Google. Also, if you consider that your image is being underestimated and you understand that it has an inappropriate useyou also have the same rights assigned by the search giant to file a lawsuit.

adult content

This is one of the values ​​that matters most to Google and that is that anyone can enter all websites that are qualified as such. There are some pages that have images and content for adults and are not approved for this segment.

Therefore, every time you find this type of information, you need to report it to the web administrator.

Copyrighted Transmissions

Another reason why you can report Google is when you know of Illegal streaming sites. In other words, they take the signal from an official channel and retransmit it on their website, violating all the copyrights that the transmission has.

apology of the crime

In its quest to show transparency of content to users, it is necessary that Google offer all visitors to the sites information that is not contrary to the Law. Therefore, all those websites that report on the sale of drugs, human trafficking and any other topic related to this type of crime must be reported.

For bullying or cyberbullying

It is one of the most complicated issues that exist today, since anyone can be receiving this type of threat without us realizing it. In case you know situations of web pages that carry out this type of criminal activity, you should report it to Google.

business scam

When you have problems related to the payment of items that you made in ecommerce stores and you realized that it is a scam, you will need to provide evidence to Google about all the information you have related to this case.

Try to be as detailed as possible in your argument so that other people do not fall into this type of situation. Google can block this type of Internet store.

Egosurfing on Google How do I know if I am being defamed on the Internet?

Egosurfing is called the activity that a person performs to search for their own information in search engines. In this way, he consults databases, written media and any website to find out what is known about himself.

As extra data, we can say that it is estimated that more than 63% of people have consulted their name, job or profession on Google at least once. This tool is ideal to know if there is defamation on the Internet about you. For this you can make your queries in the following way:

Search Google Images

A very efficient technique is to search for certain personal images in Google images. To do this you will have to go to Google, select “Images” (located at the top right of the screen) and drag the image you want to see.

If you don’t know what photo to search for, you can search by name, without leaving Google Images. In this case, You must write your name or whatever you need and click on the magnifying glass. You will see a list with all related images.

Use Google Alerts

Google gives you the ability to issue an alarm on certain topics. To create an alert, you will have to follow these instructions:

• your browser and go to Google Alerts. “https://www.google.com/alerts”
• enter the bar “Create an alert about…” what you want to search for. In this case put your name or what you think may be defaming you.
• A box will appear where you must press the option “Create alert” so that you receive in your mail all the information that appears in Google.
• If you prefer, you can make a configuration by frequency (if you want it to be at most once a week or another type of period), the language and the number of results. If you scroll down you can find a preview of the alert you are going to create.

Search on social networks

Another way you can find out if you are being defamed is to do it manually. To do this you will have to choose the social networks one by one and write your name. This way you can get results and know what information people have about you.

The networks that can help you find information are:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• tik tok

check the videos

Go to YouTube and write your name or any data related to you to establish results about possible defamation. If you use your name in quotes the result will be more exact. You can also see by dates so that the videos that appear in the list have greater precision and thus you can have more information.

Until now you have used the most important streaming platform to watch videos, but this does not mean that it is the only one. To complete the search you must enter Google, write your name in the bar and press the Videos option.

YouTube listings will appear, but you can also find other pages that may be talking about you.

Steps to report content that damages and defames my image on Google

The steps you should take when you have found content that damages and defames your image are as follows:

Contact the administrator of this site

The first thing you should do is try to solve your problem through words. So it is recommended that you contact the administrator of the site that has defamed you and ask him to remove all negative content about you.

Although this rarely happens, but it is good to try it as a first measure. To communicate with the administrator you can do it through its web page, use the tool whois, “whois www.website.com”or through the hosting that hosts the site.

File a complaint on Google

What you will have to do is review all the content that you have found on Google and complete a form to request the removal of your personal information. “https://support.google.com/websearch/troubleshooter/9685456#ts=2889054%2C2889099”

You will be able to choose if you want to delete all your data that appears in Google search as well as in the results of a website. You must bear in mind that the platform will ask you if you contacted the webmaster of the site you want to report.

you will have to complete the form with your full name, country of origin, DNI, email and URL that demonstrates malicious content.

Google will remove all content where show up in person and get verified which is really you. But it can shut down the site entirely if it uploaded information about your home address, credit card number, bank account, image of your handwritten signature, or your name on adult content sites.

Send the right to be forgotten to Google

This is a tool that is based on European legislation for the protection of personal data. With which Google is requested to remove all links that have search results and that are harmful to you.

You will have to complete a form with your personal data and attach a file with your ID or other document that proves your identity. Then you must show all the URLs that harm your person and the reasons for the elimination. “https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/legal-removal-request?complaint_type=rtbf&visit_id=0-636306136192799603-4063712276&rd=1″

If you found on YouTube

So far you have referred to all the contents of the website. But as we have already talked about before, it is also necessary that you control the videos on the YouTube platform. The steps you should take when you have found videos on the streaming platform are as follows:

• Sign in to YouTube.
• Choose the video you want to report.
• Go to the option “Plus”represented with 3 vertical dots.
• When the menu is displayed, you must click on “Report”.
• Choose the reason why you believe the video is in violation.
• Write all the additional details that you can give to the platform so that it can quickly evaluate your complaint and make a decision.

About other social networks

All platforms have the ability to report abuse. So it will depend on which one you choose to continue with the procedure. The steps are always the same, you will have to search for a publication and select the report option from the menu.

perform extra tasks

When you have already tried to delete all the content that is harmful to you, what will remain is to do different tasks to mitigate the negative content. For it, it is advisable to position all the positive opinions so that they can cover the negative comments.

You can create a personal website or inform about all the good deeds you do, sponsor charitable entities and many more things that can show your good honor.

Phishing victim? Learn how to report a fraudulent page on Google

In case you have been a victim of phishing, or identity theft, you will have to enter the tool from your browser. “Google Safe Browsing”: “https://safebrowsing.google.com/safebrowsing/report_phish/?hl=es”

When you are in this form you will have to complete the url malicious and if you want to fill in the additional information to prove phishing. When you finish, you must click on “Send report”.

How long does it take for Google to process my report and take action against the reported content or website?

When you have filed a claim with Google to report actions against web content and have been able to provide all the corresponding evidence, the platform will will give a maximum period of 5 to 7 calendar days since you started the process.

Although this may vary, depending on the seriousness of the situation, generally by that time you will already have answers to your request.