If you find stolen or unwanted content on Google Search, you might feel frustrated or helpless. But there are ways to remove it. This guide will show you how.
Many online creators, public figures, and businesses deal with content theft. Whether someone is using your work without permission or harmful information appears about you, you can take action.
Before you can remove content, you need to find it. Sometimes, stolen or unwanted content is easy to spot because you already know about it. Other times, it may take some effort to track down.
A good first step is to search for your name, brand, or specific content on Google. Try using different variations of your name or keywords related to your work. You can also use tools like Google Alerts or reverse image search to find copies of your images and text.
It’s important to check how the content appears in search results. Just because something exists online doesn’t mean Google is showing it. If the content is on a website but doesn’t show up in search results, Google may not be able to remove it.
Once you have identified the content, make a list of URLs where it appears. This will help when you report the issue to Google or the website owner.
Not all unwanted content qualifies for removal. Google does not remove content just because someone doesn’t like it. You need to determine if the content violates Google's policies or legal standards.
Ask yourself:
Google has specific rules for removing content, such as personal data leaks, explicit content, and copyright violations.
Google removes certain types of content, such as:
If the content is false or damaging but does not break any legal rules, you may need to use other strategies, like contacting the website owner or using reputation management techniques.
If the content includes:
For stolen content, copyright laws like the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) can help. If you own the original content, you have the right to request its removal.
Sometimes, the easiest way to remove content is to ask the website owner directly. If someone has published your content without permission, they might remove it if you request it politely.
So before asking Google to remove content, try contacting the website owner.
We will cover this topic in detail in a separate article. That guide will show you how to find contact information, write a proper takedown request, and what to do if the website owner refuses to cooperate.
If the website owner does not respond or refuses to remove the content, you can move on to filing a formal removal request with Google.
A DMCA takedown notice is a legal request to remove copyrighted material. If someone has stolen your text, images, videos, or other original content, you can file a complaint with Google under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
Google will only remove content if you can prove that you are the rightful owner. That means you must show that you created the content first or have legal rights to it.
To file a DMCA notice, go to Google’s copyright removal page and fill out the form. You will need to provide:
Google will review the request and remove the content if it meets the criteria. This process can take several days or weeks.
Google has several tools to help remove unwanted content. The most useful tool is the Google Removal Request Form, which lets you ask for the removal of certain types of content.
Some of the things Google can remove include:
Check Google’s removal request page for more details.
To report content to Google, go to the Google page for content removals, click on the button ‘+ Create report’ and select ‘New DMCA report’.
Then follow the instructions carefully and provide all the required information:
1. Fill out your contact details (First name, surname, company & e-mail).
2. Indicate whether you are the owner of the copyright or whether you represent the owner.
If you are representing the copyright holder, don't forget to provide their exact contact details as well. The more details you can provide about the owner, the more plausible your request will sound.
3. Identify and describe the copyrighted work and provide links where it can be viewed. Here are two possible descriptions that work very well:
"The content in question consists of unauthorized, pirated content from a photo shoot exclusively commissioned by our client for use on the OnlyFans platform. These content pieces were produced with a specific objective in mind, and our client retains exclusive rights to their distribution. At no point has our client authorized the reproduction, upload, or sharing of these images on any other website, including your service. The unauthorized presence of these photographs on your platform constitutes a clear violation of copyright laws and our client's rights."
"The content is not meant for public search indexing and is used without permission."
4. Provide links to the copyright infringing material
5. Confirm the affidavit with your signature
If Google approves your request, the content will no longer appear in search results.
However, this does not remove it from the internet — only the website owner can do that. We will be publishing an article on this soon!
After submitting a removal request, you need to monitor its progress. Google does not always notify you of updates, so it’s a good idea to check back regularly.
If your request is approved, the content will disappear from search results. If it’s denied, Google will usually provide a reason. In some cases, you can edit your request and resubmit it.
If Google refuses to remove the content, you may need to take legal action or try other online reputation management strategies. There are also professional services that can help with content removal.
Preventing content theft is easier than dealing with it later. There are steps you can take to protect your content from being stolen or misused.
Some effective methods include:
It’s also a good idea to regularly check for stolen content and take action quickly if you find anything. The longer it stays online, the harder it can be to remove.
Protecting your online presence is important. If unwanted or stolen content appears on Google, follow these steps to remove it. Be proactive and keep monitoring your content to prevent future issues.
Check out our other guides to remove stolen content from different platforms and websites:
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Need help? Remove.tech offers expert content removal services. Reach out for professional assistance!
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