How to remove a news article from Google: a step-by-step guide

One negative article on the first page of your name can change what a client, investor or employer decides. Most articles have a route to removal or delisting; the key is to take the steps in the right order.

Start with the facts

Write down the URL, the publisher and the date, and which parts are false, outdated or private. Save a screenshot and a PDF copy. False, old and private information each call for a different route.

Route 1: the publisher

Ask the publisher directly, briefly and with evidence:

• Correction when facts are wrong.
• Removal or anonymisation when the story is old and no longer in the public interest.
• Noindex as a middle ground: the article stays but stops appearing in search.

Route 2: Google’s removal tools

Google offers request forms for personal information (phone numbers, addresses, ID details), for outdated cached pages, and for legal removals such as defamation, copyright and trademark claims. Google reviews each request and generally keeps results that serve the public interest.

Route 3: the right to be forgotten

In the EU and UK, GDPR (Article 17) and the 2014 Google Spain ruling let individuals ask search engines to delist results about them that are inaccurate, outdated or irrelevant. Decisions weigh the age of the information, your public role and the harm it causes.

Route 4: the legal route

When a publisher refuses and the content is defamatory or unlawful, a lawyer can pursue removal through the courts. Laws differ by country, so this step should always be taken with counsel.

If it cannot be removed

Shift the balance: earn accurate coverage in credible outlets, strengthen your official profiles and Knowledge Panel, and correct the record where the claim spreads.

We assess your case for free and tell you which route is realistic.