Ultimate Guide to Removing Links from Google: Top 7 FAQs Unveiled

If false or outdated information about you has been published online, you can request that the article be deindexed from search results under the "right to be forgotten" laws.

For example, a businessman contacted us to remove a link from Google to an article falsely accusing him of a criminal offense. This was a smear campaign by competitors, which we removed from search results through deindexing.

The standard algorithm for removing a link from search engines seems simple. You need to fill out a special form in Google and provide sufficient evidence that the information is false, outdated, or prohibited (personal data, personal photos, medical or judicial secrets, confidential agreements).

Technical support then reviews the application within ~30 days and makes a decision. Google may request additional data. If approved, the link is removed from Google search results with a special mark. If the evidence is deemed insufficient, the system must provide a reasoned refusal. Resubmitting the same application is much more difficult with minimal chances of success.

Deindexing removes the resource with negative information from search results for the target query, but the publication remains on the site. Removing a link from search engines makes the negative information practically invisible online, as search engines are the primary way we obtain information. Google is used regularly by 4.97 billion people worldwide (out of 5.3 billion internet users).

Deindexing seems like an easy, fast, accessible, and free way to remove a link from Google search, but statistics show that this simplicity is misleading. On average, only 30% of such requests are successful (according to Google's statistics). There are several reasons for this.

• First, search engines aren't formally obligated to verify the reliability or relevance of the evidence or whether the publications actually violate the law. It's easier for technical support to refuse to remove a link from Google. This body lacks the expertise for such an examination, and in controversial cases, they shift responsibility to the courts.
• Second, the "right to be forgotten" can conflict with the right to own and distribute information. Technical support may refuse to remove a link from Google, arguing that the data is socially significant and cannot be hidden.
• Third, the request to exercise the "right to be forgotten" can be made in any format. Neither the law nor search engine websites provide a list of necessary documents to justify removing a link from Google. Applicants often don't know how to formulate a request correctly or what evidence to provide.

DIY deindexing doesn't guarantee success and carries the risk of publicity. All requests to remove links from Google are entered into the open Lumen Database, and the resource itself is notified of the deindexing request. For journalists, this is a news item that draws attention to the negativity the person wanted to hide.

This happened with Alexander Udovov, the son-in-law of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, who became the subject of BBC investigations. His attempts to remove links from Google search were discussed in the media and Telegram channels, negating his efforts when references to the investigation surfaced in articles about removing links from Google.

To minimize the risks of deindexing and increase the chances of success, it's best to contact specialists in the "right to be forgotten."

We know how to file a deindexing application for each specific case, what evidence to collect, and how to present it so that the search engine is convinced the material should be deindexed. Our years of experience and thorough analysis of each situation allow us to select a "formula for success" for each client.

At Avagard Global, we ensure client anonymity and minimize the risk of publicity by filing applications through a third party. This makes it impossible to prove that the applicant is trying to remove a link from Google, preventing information leaks.

Our method ensures that new publications about a person's attempts to "hide negative information" don't surface online, eliminating the need for repeated search result cleanup.

You can appeal the refusal to remove links from Google in court, but this is ineffective, attracts attention, and makes it difficult to predict project timelines.

Judicial precedent in these cases is limited and complex due to ambiguous interpretations of the law (what constitutes sufficient grounds for removing a link from Google) and the difficulty of proving that a publication contains false facts rather than the author's subjective opinion.

A significant drawback of going to court is the publicity, especially for public figures. Given the limited number of "right to be forgotten" court cases in Russia, they attract even more attention.

For example, in 2018, the media reported on businessman Oleg Cherepanov's court case against search engines. The court sided with Cherepanov, but the publicity surrounding his accusation of kidnapping, which he sought to remove from Google, negated any benefit.

Besides deindexing and court decisions, you can remove a link from Google by negotiating with the resource that posted the negative, irrelevant, or illegal information. This method has its pros and cons and is best suited for specific situations.

Negotiating works best if you have a trusted contact in the site administration who can quickly and reliably remove the publication.

You can also go the "official route": contact the administration using the contact information provided by the media or find out who owns the resource through services like Who.is. However, the chances of removing publications through the resource are slim. Media outlets fight for traffic and attract readers with "hot" materials. Negative, revealing, and scandalous content are the most clickbait articles that publications will protect.

Media editors may publicize attempts by the subject of the negative publication to have it removed, which only aggravates the reputational damage.

It's not recommended to negotiate removal with certain resources, like those specializing in compromising information. These sites demand money and then continue to extort money by republishing the negative content on other sites.

The best way to remove a link from Google depends on the specific situation. When a client contacts us, we analyze the request and the current state of affairs, selecting the most effective tool.

For non-public figures who need to remove a link from Google, we recommend deindexing and removal if the negative is posted on friendly resources. Deindexing via Avagard Global will allow you to remove a link from search engines without drawing attention to it, within the predictable time frame and with a 95% guarantee of success.

If a famous person, the owner of a medium or large business, an official or a deputy contacts us and wants to remove more than 5 links from Google, deindexing will not be enough for a high-quality and long-term result.

By removing links from Google search, other publications will naturally fill the search results. Without controlling this process, resources with negative content will reach the top. Firstly, because it was already on the Internet, and secondly, it is highly ranked in the search results due to the interest of most Internet users.

To protect the client from filling the search results with natural negativity in the future, we not only remove links from Google, but also purposefully create a digital profile of the person (the first 20 links for a request with his full name).

Our team prepares and posts new articles about the client, reflecting his current status and the image he needs on the Internet. Then we promote the publications, so that the first two and main pages of the search page are filled with the information we need.

We "concrete" the positive results, protecting our client from future negativity.

When seeking a company to remove negative content from Google, prioritize experience and a proven track record. Inept handling of online reputation management can backfire, particularly for public figures, potentially triggering investigative reports about attempts to suppress information.

Opt for a multidisciplinary firm, rather than one focused solely on de-indexing or PR. A broader skillset allows for a more comprehensive and effective approach. At Avagard Global, we employ specialists in IT, marketing, law, and public relations.

This enables us to tailor our services. With a diverse toolkit, we avoid cookie-cutter solutions and instead develop customized strategies for each client.

Our team has successfully deindexed numerous links from Google this year alone, across various languages and scenarios. Avagard Global is a leading provider of Google link removal services, offering guaranteed results—or you don't pay—delivered on time, confidentially, and globally.