System allows people to alert Google that a page has been deleted, blocked, or changed.
Google has improved its tools for removing a page from its search results or cache on a website you don’t own.
The tool is designed for people to alert Google that a page has been deleted, had robots.txt added, or the content has been changed.
I think you can call this the mugshot removal tool, since one of its purposes is to remove mugshot pages from Google once the mugshot site owner deletes it. It can also be used when a revenge porn site operator capitulates or shuts down his site due to a criminal indictment.
In order to submit a request, the owner of the site must have deleted the page, blocked it from search, or changed the content. If the contents has been changed, you must submit at least one word on the page that has been removed (e.g., your name).
The cache removal feature ensures that a Google searcher can’t see the previous version of the site with the embarrassing information on it.
Google’s own help pages on the topic don’t discuss mugshot and revenge porn sites, instead providing a less threatening example:
Say you’ve discovered a page stating that “Susan’s cats are ugly”. The webmaster has updated the site so that it now indicates that “Susan’s cats are beautiful.” The problem is that the text “Susan’s cats are ugly” still appears in the cached page, and is turning up in search results snippets.
mike says
This in not a mugshot removal tool – why would you write an article about absolutely nothing? This will not remove a mugshot link on an active page!
Mike Benson says
I will work once the page has been deleted. Some people don’t know this extra step is needed after deleting a URL. Otherwise it can stay in the SERPS for months.