Requests to delist content under European privacy law

In a May 2014 ruling, the Court of Justice of the European Union found that individuals have the right to ask search engines like Google to delist certain results about them. This report provides data on the volume of requests, the URLs delisted, the individuals submitting requests and the content of websites and URLs identified in requests.

Delisting URLs from Google Search for privacy

In a May 2014 ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union, the Court found that individuals have the right to ask search engines like Google to delist certain results for queries on the basis of a person’s name. The search engine must comply if the links in question are 'inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant or excessive', taking into account public-interest factors including the individual’s role in public life. Pages are only delisted from results in response to queries that relate to an individual’s name. We delist URLs from all of Google’s European search results – results for users in France, Germany, Spain, etc. – and use geolocation signals to restrict access to the URL from the country of the requester. The chart below shows the total number of requests received and the total number of URLs requested to be delisted since 29 May 2014.

Requests received over time

URLs requested and delisted

This chart shows the percentage and actual number of URLs that have been delisted after review. The data used to generate the chart goes back to the launch of our official request process on 29 May 2014. URL delisting requests that are still pending review, or that require additional information in order to process, are not included in this chart.

Evaluating requests

We assess each request on a case-by-case basis. In some cases, we may ask the individual for more information. We have carefully developed criteria in alignment with the Article 29 Working Party’s guidelines. After a request is submitted to us via our web form it undergoes a manual review. Once we reach a decision, the individual will receive an email notifying them of our decision and, if we do not delist the URL, a brief explanation. For additional information about our process and how to submit a request to delist content, please visit the Right to be forgotten overview .

Reasons why we don’t delist

A few common material factors involved in decisions not to delist pages include the existence of alternative solutions, technical reasons or duplicate URLs. We may also determine that the page contains information which is strongly in the public interest. Determining whether content is in the public interest is complex and may mean considering many diverse factors, including, but not limited to, whether the content relates to the requester’s professional life, a past crime, political office, position in public life, or whether the content is self-authored content, consists of government documents or is journalistic in nature.

Explore requests

These are examples of requests that we’ve received from individuals. In assessing each request, Google must consider the rights of the individual and the public’s interest in the content. We have removed any identifying information from these examples in order to protect the identity of the individual affected by the content.

Categories of requesters

This chart provides a breakdown of the categories we use to classify requesters when we evaluate requests to delist URLs. As of January 2018, 1% of all requesters accounted for approximately 20% (1.4 M) of the total URLs requested for removal. The data represents the number of requests that we’ve received beginning in January 2016.

Learn more

Categories of websites hosting content requested for delisting

This chart shows the percentage of URLs that we have evaluated for delisting by the category of site identified in the request. URL delisting requests that are still pending review, or that require additional information in order to process, are not included in this chart. This data dates back to January 2016.

Categories of content requested for delisting

This chart shows the percentage of URLs that we have evaluated for delisting, broken down by the category of content at the requested URL. URL delisting requests that are still pending review, or that require additional information in order to process, are not included in this chart. This data dates back to January 2016.

Learn more about our categories

Requested content by website category

This chart shows the breakdown of categories of content appearing on URLs requested to be delisted, according to the type of site.

Requested URL delisting rate by site category

This chart shows the rate at which requested URLs are delisted, by category of website and content on the website.

URL delisting rate, by website category

URL delisting rate, by content category

Sites that are most impacted

The list below highlights the domains where we’ve delisted the most URLs on Google Search.

Explore how European privacy law impacts Google Search results

Since July 2014, European privacy law has had an impact on information available for certain queries in Google Search. The numbers here quantify and explain that impact.

Learn more about the relationship between privacy and access to information online.