Google is launching a digital panic button, a new feature to find and delete intimate or sensitive images that have been posted by mistake, carelessly, or without permission.

Given the immediacy of the internet, an unintentional click can cause a sensitive image, not meant to be shared, to be published. In this regard, and to protect users, Google is expanding its “About You” system: a feature that not only tracks personal information in search results but now also makes it easier to locate and request the removal of explicit images that should never have left your private camera roll.

Although not entirely new, the tech giant is now expanding the scope of privacy so that “people can request the removal of information such as phone numbers, addresses, emails, driver’s license numbers, passports, social security data, and other official identifications that could be used to harass, impersonate, or extort.”

Furthermore, and most critically, it addresses “the management of intimate or explicit photos that appear in Google search results without consent.” This isn’t simply about deleting isolated data points, but about providing users with a clearer mechanism against the unwanted dissemination of sensitive content.

Manage personal information from the Google mobile app

Encryption protocols and an updated interface will be implemented, simplifying previously cumbersome processes. To perform this cleanup, users must go to the Google mobile app. From there, they can access their profile picture and enter the “Results about you” section, the central panel where “the personal information being tracked in search results is managed.”

Once there, users can register names, aliases, phone numbers, email addresses, or other identifiers they wish to monitor. After completing the process, the system will automatically monitor search results and notify users upon detecting matches. These alerts can also be sent via email, allowing for swift action.

In the case of sexually explicit photos, users can click on the three dots in the corner of the image, select the option to remove results, and check “Show a sexual image of me.” According to Google, the tool has been optimized to manage multiple images in a single form.

M.Pino

Source: publimetro

(Reference image source: sarah b en Unsplash)

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