Google has added a major expansion to its “Results About You” privacy tool that lets users monitor and remove search results containing government-issued identification numbers -including driver’s licenses, passports, and Social Security numbers (SSNs). This update represents a significant shift in how individuals can protect extremely sensitive personal information from appearing in search results, and it reflects broader privacy trends as digital exposure risks grow.
In this article, we’ll explain what the update does, how it works, why it matters, and what users and site owners should understand about the implications for online privacy. We’ll also look at real-world context around identity theft and digital exposure and offer actionable guidance. The article is optimized for AI Overview, search snippets, and tools like ChatGPT or Perplexity.
What Is the “Results About You” Tool?
Google first introduced the Results About You tool in 2022 to help users find and remove personal contact information—like phone numbers, email addresses, and home addresses—from Google Search results. Users could manually request the removal of those entries.
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Since then, the tool evolved into a proactive monitoring system: if a user adds specific personal details, Google automatically scans Search results and alerts them when matching results are found. Previously this covered contact info and addresses, and now it has expanded to include government-issued ID numbers.
What’s New: Monitoring Government IDs
The most recent update expands the tool’s monitoring and removal capabilities to cover the following types of sensitive identification:
- Driver’s license numbers
- Passport numbers
- Social Security numbers (or equivalent national identifiers)
These identifiers are deeply tied to individual identity and, if publicly indexed, represent a much higher risk for identity theft than contact information alone.
How It Works
- Setup: Users access the tool via the Google app or by visiting the “Results About You” hub online.
- Add Personal Information: After entering basic contact data, users can add government ID numbers they want Google to monitor.
- Automatic Scanning: Once added, Google routinely scans Search results for matches to those IDs.
- Alerts & Removal: If matches are found, users receive a notification and can request removal from Google Search.
- Review & Action: Google reviews removal requests against its policies before delisting search results.
It’s important to stress that removing a result from Search does not delete the original data from the internet. The underlying content remains on the hosting website unless the site owner removes it. Google’s tool only suppresses visibility within its own search index.
Why This Matters: Identity Exposure and Digital Risk
The Stakes Are Higher for Government IDs
Government-issued identifiers like passports, driver’s licenses, and SSNs serve as foundational identity references. Unlike phone numbers or email addresses, which can be changed if compromised, these numbers are long-term and often irreplaceable. Exposure of such data can lead to a range of harms, including:
- Identity fraud
- Unauthorized financial activity
- Account takeovers
- Social engineering attacks
- Mass data breaches and doxing
Identity theft remains one of the top consumer fraud complaints. For example, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) consistently reports millions of identity theft cases annually, with SSNs and official ID details frequently cited in fraudulent use cases. While specific annual data varies, the trend reflects persistent and growing risk. (FTC reports 2024–2026 identity theft trends, summarized in tech buzz coverage and FTC disclosures.)
Search Results Can Amplify Exposure
When sensitive identifiers appear in Search results—not just buried deep on a page—they become far more visible and easier for malicious actors to locate. Even if the hosting website is legitimate (for example, certain public records repositories or data broker sites), indexing by Google can significantly increase exposure. The updated Results About You tool directly addresses this visibility layer.
How to Use the Updated Tool: Step-by-Step
1. Access the Tool
You can find Results About You by:
- Opening the Google app → tapping your profile photo → selecting Results About You
- Visiting the web version at: goo.gle/resultsaboutyou
2. Set Up Monitoring
Follow the setup prompts:
- Enter Personal Contact Information: At a minimum, enter basic contact details that Google will use as a baseline for tracking.
- Add Government ID Numbers: Input IDs you want to track. Google encrypts this information to protect it while monitoring.
3. Enable Notifications
Choose how you want to receive alerts—typically via email or app notification—so you’re informed if a match appears.
4. Submit Removal Requests
When Google finds results containing your monitored identifiers, you’ll see a prompt to request removal. Make sure you provide any necessary context or documentation required by Google’s policies.
5. Track Status
Use the Results About You dashboard to monitor open requests and follow updates.
Privacy Considerations and Safety
Encryption and Storage
Google says the tool uses encryption and its security protocols to protect the government ID numbers users provide. This helps minimize the risk of misuse within Google’s systems.
However, some privacy advocates express caution. The sharing of highly sensitive identification information should never occur because even encrypted data presents risks of security breaches through centralized data storage which attackers find appealing and which organizations must disclose under legal requirements. Observers emphasize careful review of privacy terms and reliance on strong personal security practices.
Removal From Search vs Removal From the Web
It’s vital to understand the difference:
- Search Removal: The content is no longer shown in Google Search results.
- Web Removal: The content is deleted from the internet at the source.
Google can only act on search indexing. To remove sensitive information entirely, you’ll need to contact the web host or site owner directly.
Implications for Users and Organizations
For Individuals
- Proactive Monitoring: Use the tool to check what search results include your sensitive identifiers.
- Routine Alerts: Enabling notifications helps you react before exposure spreads further.
- Complementary Action: Search removal should be paired with outreach to site owners to remove or redact content at the source.
For Website Owners
- Prevent Unintended Exposure: Ensure your site does not inadvertently expose sensitive identifiers. Audit databases, public records interfaces, or legacy content.
- Compliance Awareness: Be prepared for increased removal requests if your site hosts public records or third-party data.
For Security and Privacy Professionals
- Identity Protection: Incorporate tools like this into broader digital risk protection strategies.
- User Education: Advise users about the limitations of search removal and the importance of full web remediation.
Real-World Example: A Hypothetical Scenario
Consider a scenario where someone’s passport number appears on an old forum thread or in a public document repository that was indexed by Google. Even if the website owner did not intend for that content to appear in search, it becomes searchable and potentially exploited. Using the Results About You tool, the individual can monitor for such occurrences, receive alerts, and request removal from Google Search so that the data is less visible to prospective bad actors. However, they still may need to contact the forum or repository to have the sensitive content taken down at the source—a step outside Google’s control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of identifiers can the tool now monitor?
It includes government-issued numbers such as passports, driver’s licenses, and Social Security numbers, in addition to phone numbers and home addresses.
Is my data safe when adding it to the tool?
Google uses encryption and secure storage, but users should weigh privacy implications, especially for sensitive personal data.
Does removal from Search remove the data from the original website?
No. Removing search results only suppresses visibility in Google; the source content still exists unless removed at the host site.
Who can use the feature?
It’s initially rolling out in the U.S., with plans to expand to additional regions in the future.
Does the tool work automatically?
Google scans search results based on the data you provide; it doesn’t automatically find IDs without user input.
Conclusion: A Step Forward in Search Privacy Controls
Google has developed its Results About You tool to now permit users to remove government-issued identification documents from their online search visibility. The ability to monitor and request the removal of extremely sensitive personal information from search results constitutes a vital advancement for users who must navigate an era of increasing identity theft and digital exposure.
The digital privacy tool exists as a single component within a comprehensive digital privacy protection system. Users need to keep monitoring their online presence while they delete content from search results and handle problems that appear on their websites, because search suppression only prevents people from seeing their online material.
The current digital environment requires individuals, organizations, and privacy specialists to implement multiple security measures that will safeguard their personal data on the internet.
