3 Ways to Remove Images From Google Searches

Images on the internet will likely always be there. Even if deleted, they may be found using software like the Wayback Machine. Still, deleting pictures from Google searches is the next best thing. Deleting an image from the public eye, in a world of trillions of images, it’s basically deleting them for good. Lucky for you, there are several ways to do this.

So how can you delete your images from Google? How do you regain your privacy? And why should you care?

Why Should You Care About Images of You on the Internet?

There are images of you online. No big deal, right? Think again…

Metadata/EXIF Data

If someone examines a photo through an EXIF program, they could see metadata, i.e. data accompanying the image generated when the picture is taken. For example, the type of camera, the resolution, the time of the photo, and more.

Of note, metadata is also availably in files. This data is helpful, but we need to know that it is also personal. Arguably the most sensitive, above all, is the GPS coordinates of the place where the photo was taken.

Contextual Data

When posting photos on social networks, details in the image itself may help a groomer or a stalker. This might even be considered in a wider context, allowing someone with a lot of patience to collect and cross-check information. Selfie backgrounds are notorious for being used for these purposes.

People can tell a lot from what you are wearing and where you are. Stalkers and identity thieves might pick hobbies, clubs, school uniforms, workplace, logos, and symbols out of a picture, anything to help commit a crime. This can include personal information such as car plates, home addresses, signatures, and IDs.

Damage to the Public Image

There are also images of intimate content on the internet. Even if it’s a clear picture of you or your friends, there is a risk of altering the image. An interested party can change faces in photos or videos and put people into fake compromising situations. This often happens with famous faces edited into sexual images, yet it could happen to anyone.

Can I Delete All Images of Myself Using Google?

Most images appearing in Google search results are from websites unrelated to Google, so Google can’t remove any picture entirely; it can only remove images from its searches.

So with that in mind, know that there are several search engines where people might find your picture, such as Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, etc. You can also petition for these search engines to delete images.

How to Request a Picture Be Removed From Google Searches

Google remains the most popular search engine, so how can you get your images deleted from its searches?

1. Contact the Webmaster

This can be done by looking for the “Contact us” link or the website’s email address. You could also find the contact info through Whois. Type “Whois” and the website on google.com, as seen in the example below.

Through this method, you will be dealing with a human being and not a legal system or a manual. If you opt to contact the webmaster, be polite and explain why you want to remove the image.

2. Submit a Request to Google Regarding Pre-Established Criteria

Google is generally compliant when it needs to remove images that are sexual in nature, present a legal issue, or reveal personal information. Again, all Google can do in these cases is clear the image from the search engine, not remove the photos from the internet.

To remove an image to avoid identity theft or fraud, the following must be present in the image:

• Sensitive financial information (like bank account or credit card numbers).
• Medical records or information.
• Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or doxxing content (IDs, personal contact info, official records, handwritten signatures, login credentials).
• National ID information (social security, passport, residency, etc.).
• Images of handwritten signatures.
• Images with intellectual property issues or where court orders decree the need to take down a picture.

Google will also be cooperative when removing intimate and sexual content if it follows the following criteria:

• Non-consensual explicit/sexual personal images or videos (i.e. revenge porn).
• Sexually abusive images toward children.
• Involuntary fake pornography.
• Child sexual abuse material.

According to Google, all images of this nature will be removed if they meet the criteria, except if the image contains something of public interest. Still, this rarely happens. According to Google, they will also be keen to remove any picture of a minor (18 and under).

3. Report an Image to Google for Other Reasons

If you still want an image removed but for reasons not stated above, there are still a few things you can do.

Report Result: You could report a random image by going onto the image itself. Then, at the top right of your screen, you will find a three dots button; click on it and then click on Report this result.

Then a page will pop out where you must make a compelling argument to Google, so they consider removing the image.

Report Content for Legal Reasons: Here, you need to click on Create a request, then it will take you to a different page where you must click on Google Images. After that, you can select the reason to delete a picture from Google searches.

In this section, you could click on Right to be Forgotten, but remember that this only applies to European Union (EU) applicants. The Right to be Forgotten is a decree from the EU that states that any individual has the right to have private information (including pictures) removed from internet searches.

Whatever reason you select, Google will ask you for the specific image link and for a reason why the image violates your rights or needs to be removed.

Report Outdated Content from Google Search: For this to apply to you, the website where the image is hosted must not exist anymore, which happens more frequently than you think. If a webmaster stops paying for the right of the domain, for example, the page will eventually cease to exist.

If this applies to you, click on Remove outdated content from Google Search and click on New request; then click on the image, paste the image URL and the website URL hosting the image, and submit the request.

The Last Resort

If everything else fails, you could hire a lawyer (which will likely be expensive) or look into laws that protect your rights and privacy online.

Many countries have government institutions that will fight for your rights. For example, Mexico has the Derecho ARCO (Acceso, Rectificación, Cancelación y Oposición), which protects citizens’ right to control their privacy. There is even an organization called the INAI which helps citizens with privacy rights, among other things.

Wherever you are in the world, most countries have similar laws that you could use or consult to help you regain your privacy.

Hide Your Online Images

Whatever situation you are in (in terms of having unwanted pictures online), there are several ways to remove images and information from Google searches and even the rest of the internet.

Don’t be discouraged if you try a couple of methods and don’t achieve success. Keep ploughing away because your privacy is worth persistence.