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Comment by legitster | Hacker News Reader

To Google's credit, it's literally the first search results for "how do I remove myself from Google". It is a bit ironic that people looking to remove something for being too easy to find via search are being stymied by a simple search.

Still, good to provide some visibility about it. I certainly never knew this was a thing.

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The problem is they almost never actually honor these requests. I know several victims of stalking (including myself) who have had no luck with these forms, even when we've met the narrow and extreme criteria required including doxxing, death threats, etc. And if the forms don't work, there is no option B: courts will reject any challenges to remove content due to section 230, and if they won't take it down, then Google won't either and you're just stuck dealing with it indefinitely. It's been a special kind of hell that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. It impacts your reputation, your career, your friends, etc. It makes you suspicious of everyone because you don't know when it's just another stalker digging for more dirt. Section 230 really needs a carve-out for cyberstalking and extortion.

First result...under 4 ads that probably make you pay to do the thing google does for free for you.

I get 0 ads on that search. The very first result, above anything but their header, is https://support.google.com/websearch/troubleshooter/3111061 .

Since there are conflicting reports, allow me a stupid question: you're not running adblock?

3 ads + featured snippet before the result for me.

A weird example of Google creating business for third parties.

2 ads and a card linking directly to the Google support article explaining how to remove it here.

I guess I'm just lucky: https://imgur.com/IQPdvej.png

The answer is almost below the fold on my 13" macbook pro

I get 4 ads too. Thankfully my screen is a little taller (1920x1200 on Windows Chrome with no scaling).

https://i.imgur.com/uq0exY6.png

so it's of course not free, given ads alone tho -- wisely -- even w/out feeling inclined to pay for anything Goo

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