Remove Junk from Google? Mueller Has Some Tips

Source: Flickr_John Mueller’s Guide to Cleaning Up Your Google Search Presence

In a recent question on Reddit, Google’s John Mueller responded regarding the problem of getting unwanted content removed from search results. A user was seeking help to remove an old news article about his arrest, which had been persisting in Google searches. The case was settled years ago, but the article persisted on the first page, aggravating the victim.

Guidance by Mueller: This basically means that if information in a particular domain has been deindexed, then it must be deleted likewise from other similar domains. The fact that someone has been obligated or ordered to eliminate the info, is adequate for Google to expeditiously remove it from their search results.

He said that while the newspaper had appended a note to the online version of the article indicating it had “de-indexed” the item, there is not really anything like a “delete” button for search engines. He outlined a number of approaches that could be taken to try and achieve his goal of getting the material removed:

• Takedown: The easiest way to remove undesirable content is to persuade the owner of the content to remove the article altogether. This would lead to a 404 error when users access the page.
• No-index Tag: If a complete takedown cannot be made, then a noindex tag is what the content owner can do. This tag tells search engines not to include a page, and it will not show up in results. However, Mueller further warned that sometimes it takes several months for this noindex to work.
• Name Replace: Instead, Mueller suggested asking the news source to replace the name of the individual with a generic term like “John Doe.” This action would make the article hard to find through name searches.
• Right to be Forgotten: In some countries or jurisdictions, individuals have the legal right to petition for the removal of their personal information from search results. Such an action is referred to as the “right to be forgotten.”

De-indexing Time Frames

He said that the time it takes for a noindex to appear in results is variable. Though it normally takes less than a few months, sometimes it can take up to six months. He reassured him that pages do not stay in the index forever without refreshing.

Google’s Public Removal Tool

In case one is not a website owner, Google has a public removal tool in place. Through this, one is allowed to send a request for the removal of harmful content from search results. Mueller added that Google would check on the request and confirm a noindex tag does exist on the page within just a few days.

Hidden De-indexing Methods

He did admit that there are some “hidden” de-indexing techniques in existence, but also mentioned that these are not really commonly used. Instead, he recommended use of the public removal tool or contacting the content owner for best results.

Other Factors to Consider

• Content Owner Resistance: It may be hard to convince content owners to take down or to change their content. There may need to be negotiation, persistence.
• Legal Ramifications: The legal framework around content removal differs from one jurisdiction to another. Familiarity with the laws of the land is quite significant.
• Effectiveness: The strategies provided by Mueller can be very effective, but that doesn’t assure one that the undesirable content will be completely gotten off the search results.

The Never-Ending Battle to Scrub Content

This undesired content in the search results is a very controversial issue. Debates go on regarding the proper balance of freedom of speech and individual privacy. Though Google has issued guidelines on how to rid such content, it may turn out to be a very difficult and laborious process.

The Role of Content Owners

The unwanted content is removed mainly by the content owners themselves. They can delete, modify, or conduct an action at their will, which restrains access to their content. But it is tough to convince them to do so when the content is profitable or when they think that it is newsworthy.

Legal Considerations

Legal frameworks very much influence how far a person can control the spread of personal information. Some jurisdictions provide for a “right to be forgotten,” under legally prescribed situations, such as by the GDPR, which does have provisions for a person requesting their personal data to be removed from search results.

However, most of these laws have their limits. For example, the right to be forgotten is not applicable if the information is of public interest or if there is an overriding interest in publication. Secondly, it is difficult to enforce because the holders of content are usually in different countries with varying legislations.

How Search Engine Algorithms Affect

Algorithms that power the search engines are essential in determining what information finally appears in search results. These algorithms sometimes inadvertently amplify harmful or misleading content while they are trying to show relevant and informative results.

Indeed, search engines are at the forefront in trying to continuously fine-tune their algorithms to ensure the ranking of risky content is done properly. Machine learning techniques will massively identify and remove spam, misinformation, and hate speech. Of course, these are emerging efforts, and again, there are risks associated with new forms of harmful content arising.

The Role of Online Communities

Online communities can really make a big difference in fighting undesired content. The users are able to report harassing or misleading content to the moderators of the platform and hence have assurance of safety and welcomingness on these platforms.

However, online communities may also become a platform for harmful content. Online forums and social media groups can spread hate speech, misinformation, and harassment. Consequently, in this respect, the moderation team within relevant websites has to closely monitor the activities on these websites and try to avert the publishing of any harmful content.

Automated Content Removal: The Challenges

Automated systems can be at least partially effective in detecting and removing some forms of harmful content, such as spam or malware. They cannot, however, draw a line between non malicious and malicious content that does not violate the rules of the platform.

This can amount to the removal of protected content, which is quite harmful to people and businesses. To answer the foregoing, automated systems should be carefully calibrated and continuously monitored so as not to be removing protected content.

The Future of Content Moderation

Problems of content moderation are only going to become more insistent with the continuous increase in volume and complexity of online content. Most likely, a combination of human and automated approaches will be required to meet the challenges.

Human moderators can provide the judgment and context often needed to determine if content is inappropriate. Meanwhile, automated systems show potential to identify and remove harmful content quickly at scale. Humans and machines working independently but in concert can help realize a safer and more informative online environment.

This finally brings us to the conclusion that undesirable content in search engine results is a manifold problem that has to be viewed from different angles. Though guidance was provided by Google about how to rid one’s site of such content, it may prove very difficult and time-consuming. Knowing what content owners can do, the legal considerations, the search algorithms, online communities, and how content can be automatically removed empowers collaboration between people and organizations working toward a better, more positive, and informative online environment.

Sources:

• https://www.searchenginejournal.com/googles-john-mueller-on-removing-unwanted-content-from-search/524815/
• https://twitter.com/sejournal/status/1825599823241777591
• https://brightmoondigital.com/googles-john-mueller-discusses-removing-unwanted-content-from-search-results/
• https://digitaldriven.in/googles-john-mueller-on-removing-unwanted-content-from-search/

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