You can now request Google to remove your images from search result

Google has rolled out important updates that will be helpful in curbing online harassment. Now you can request Google to remove your images from the search results. If you google your name, you would find images linked to your social media handles along with the links that are related to you. The images are mostly the display picture that you upload on social media and not the posts. Now, users under the age of 18 can also fill up request forms and ask Google to remove their images.

Twitter display picture, Linked profile picture and Facebook profile pictures in search results. The search results contain a series of images such as your new and old display pictures. The pictures appear in the images result alongside the links related to you. If you have appeared on any of the websites, google search results will show that as well. This is unsafe to a large extent because anyone can google your name and get access to your pictures and use them for different purposes. But not anymore, Google is now giving an option to users to fill up a form and request the company to remove the pictures from the search results.For users below the age of 18, Parents, guardians, or an "authorized representative" can request Google to remove the images.

“Google will remove images of current minors (meaning anyone below the age of 18) from Search results at the request of the minor or their parent or guardian, with the exception of cases of compelling public interest or newsworthiness,” Google said.

It is important to note that users cannot request to remove a web URL, only the image can be removed from the search results. Google has made it clear that even if it removes an image from Google Search, it may still exist on the web. This means someone can still view the image on the web URL that hosts it, or find it through social media. This means that the image will still be discoverable on other platforms even if Google removes it. Currently, users can only request Google to remove images of a minor or user who has not turned 18.

In order to request Google to remove images for Search, you will have to provide the following information

— The name, age, country, and email address of the minor

—The image URL for the photo(s) in question

—The search terms and URLs that cause the photo(s) to appear

—A screenshot of the photo(s)

—An explanation of why you want the photo(s) removed