How Long Does Google Take to Remove Results?

Q: Will Google remove non-consensual sexually explicit images posted by an ex-partner?

Yes, Google will remove sexually explicit photos or videos distributed without consent, particularly in harassment situations such as revenge porn posted by ex-partners. Google has stated it will voluntarily remove this content upon request and even provides a dedicated revenge porn web form for submitting removal requests.

Q: How do Google and X (formerly Twitter) handle child abuse imagery online?

Google and X have jointly created a tagging system for child abuse imagery, along with a web crawler designed to find and remove child pornography from the internet. This software was developed in partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation, an organization dedicated to curbing child pornography online.

Q: Can Google remove content that damages my reputation even if it doesn't violate specific policies?

This is where things get significantly harder — reputational harm alone is not enough to guarantee removal, and de-indexing is extremely difficult even when the information is likely false. In these cases, alternative reputation management strategies, such as publishing positive content to push down negative results, are often more practical and effective.

Q: What personal data or financial information will Google consider removing from search results?

Google may remove certain categories of personal information through a web form application, including government-issued ID numbers, information used in financial transactions, data that could lead to identity theft or financial harm, and confidential information. Requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and Google will not remove publicly available information sourced from government websites.

Q: If my de-indexing request is denied by Google, are there other options?

Yes, professional reputation management firms can assist even when direct de-indexing requests have been denied. Strategies may include suppressing negative content by building and promoting positive content that ranks higher in search results, effectively reducing the visibility of harmful information without requiring Google to remove it entirely.

When Will Google Remove Search Results? How Long It Takes

From revenge porn to personal data, here is exactly what Google will remove from search results and how to request it successfully.

Kent Campbell July 11, 2020 · Updated February 21, 2026 · 2 min read

Google will usually remove sexually explicit photos or videos that are distributed without consent for harassment purposes – in our experience it’s often by angry ex-partners.

Does Google remove revenge porn?

Yes, it does.

Google has stated that it will voluntarily remove this content upon request, and the company even offers a revenge porn web form that can be filled out for that purpose.

Does Google remove personal data?

Yes, but it depends on the kind of data.

Google is willing to remove personal information, again through a simple web form application.

Google may consider removing the following information:

Government-issued identification numbers
Information used for common financial transactions
Information that could lead to financial harm or identity theft
Information considered confidential

The below screenshot shows more detailed information on the type of information that can be removed, as well as information Google doesn’t usually remove.

Google considers requests on a case-by-case basis. Note: Google does not remove publicly available information from government websites – it can’t.

What do Google and “X” do about child abuse imagery?

Google takes an active stance when it comes to removing child abuse imagery, sexual or otherwise. In fact, in conjunction with “X”, the internet giant has created a tagging system for child abuse imagery, as well as a web crawler to find and remove child pornography. Google wrote this software in partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation, which seeks to curb child pornography.

How can harmful online information be removed/de-indexed?

Some of the negative information found on the web can cause great damage, yet it may not strictly fall under these categories. Information that harms your reputation, whether it’s your personal reputation or that of your company, is extremely difficult to de-index, even in cases when the information is probably not true.

There are other reputation management strategies that can help you to improve the overall sentiment of your search rankings.

How to get online content de-indexed

Google has tips for online reputation, but they’re very weak. In our experience, if a person or brand has any notability at all Google’s guidelines will not work.

Removing URLs from Google, when possible, is what we do. Reputation X has a long track record of success when it comes to helping to repair company and personal reputations. We can help you in your endeavors to de-index harmful information online. We can also help in cases when de-indexing requests have been denied. Repairing your online reputation is not easy, and what worked yesterday may not work today. But help is at hand – we successfully transform online reputations every day.