DuckDuckGo Right to be Forgotten UK, practical guide to blocking search results for your name
Last reviewed: 6 September 2025
Quick answer
- Scope, UK and EU only: you can ask for dereferencing where information is inaccurate, inadequate, no longer relevant or excessive, balanced against the public interest.
- What you must provide: exact URLs, the name query, proof of identity, your country of residence, and short reasons with evidence.
- How to contact DuckDuckGo: email [email protected]. Include the items above and a short explanation.
- Content usually remains online: dereferencing does not delete the page. Ask the publisher to remove or update the content if appropriate.
- Data broker listings: DuckDuckGo’s Personal Information Removal is a subscription feature that targets data brokers, and it is currently available in the United States only. It is different from search dereferencing.
1. What the law says, statute first
Article 17 of the UK GDPR, and the equivalent Article 17 of the EU GDPR, gives you the right to request erasure of personal data in defined circumstances. Search engine dereferencing is one way this right operates, balanced against the public interest. Read the legal text:
The Court of Justice confirmed search engine responsibilities and that global dereferencing is not required. Read the judgments:
2. How DuckDuckGo approaches results and removals
DuckDuckGo explains that search results come from a combination of sources and that it also operates its own crawler, DuckDuckBot. Its help pages describe how removals work and when to contact the team for specific cases.
3. How to contact DuckDuckGo
- Email for privacy enquiries: [email protected]
- Help and contact page: https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/company/contact-us
When you write, include your full name, your country of residence, the exact name search that surfaces the links, every URL on its own line, and a short explanation with supporting evidence.
4. Prepare a strong request
- Exact URLs: list the full links you want dereferenced, one per line.
- Your search name: the full name that surfaces those URLs in the UK.
- Identification: be ready to verify that you are the person affected.
- Short reasons with evidence: explain inaccuracies, outdated context, disproportionate impact, or other Article 17 grounds. Attach proof such as judgments or corrections.
- If a page changed or was removed at source: ask the publisher to update or confirm, then include that evidence in your request.
5. ICO guidance you should know
The UK Information Commissioner explains how search result dereferencing works and how complaints are assessed. If your request is refused, you can escalate here:
6. Personal identifiers and data broker listings
DuckDuckGo’s Personal Information Removal is a subscription feature that targets data broker listings. It is currently available in the United States only. It is different from search dereferencing.
7. Outcomes, what to expect
- Dereferenced for your name query in the UK and EU: results no longer show for your name where dereferencing applies.
- Partial approvals: some URLs may be dereferenced while others remain. Submit further evidence if needed.
- Refusals: you can complain to the ICO, or resubmit with stronger evidence.
8. Step by step, my recommended flow
- List each URL and confirm the name query that surfaces it in the UK.
- Gather evidence, corrections and context, for example court outcomes or retractions.
- Write a concise request with Article 17 reasons and attach your proof.
- Email [email protected] and keep a copy of your message and attachments.
- Track the response, answer any follow up questions, and record decisions.
- If results continue to appear despite corrections at source, reply with that evidence and ask DuckDuckGo to review.
Need professional support
I coordinate casework at Internet Erasure. Our caseworkers handle UK and EU Right to be Forgotten submissions daily, including complex matters around criminal offence data and news reporting. If you want help drafting, evidence mapping, or escalation, contact Internet Erasure Ltd.
General information only, not legal advice. RTBF is a UK and EU remedy, not a global removal.
