Google Right to be Forgotten UK, practical guide to getting search results delisted
Last reviewed: 5 September 2025
Quick answer
- Scope, UK and EU only: The Right to be Forgotten, also called the right to erasure, lets you ask Google to delist results for your name in the UK and EU, content on the source site usually remains live.
- What Google checks: Is the result inaccurate, inadequate, irrelevant, or excessive, and is there a public‑interest reason to keep it.
- What you must provide: Exact URLs, the name query, proof of identity, and short reasons with evidence.
- How to apply: Use Google’s EU privacy form. If the page has already changed or been removed, use the Outdated Content tool instead.
- If refused: You can complain to the ICO in the UK, include Google’s decision email and your original request.
1. What the law says, statute first
Article 17 of the UK GDPR, and the equivalent Article 17 of the EU GDPR, gives individuals the right to request erasure of personal data in certain circumstances. Search engine delisting is one practical way this right is applied, alongside a public interest balance. You can read the legal text here, plain links:
Key grounds include data that is no longer necessary, consent withdrawn, a valid objection to processing, unlawful processing, legal obligation to erase, and children’s data. Exemptions can apply, such as freedom of expression, legal obligations, public interest, archiving, or the exercise or defence of legal claims.
2. How Google applies RTBF in the UK and EU
Google’s approach is set out in its Right to be Forgotten overview. In short, individuals can ask Google to delist results for searches of their name. Google assesses whether the information is inaccurate, inadequate, irrelevant, or excessive, then weighs that against the public interest. Corporations usually cannot use RTBF to delist name‑based queries for the company name. Read Google’s overview here:
Territorial scope matters. Delisting occurs on European domains and is reinforced with geolocation so UK users searching any Google domain do not see delisted results for the person’s name. See Google’s explanation and data:
The Court of Justice confirmed that global delisting is not required, and that EU and UK delisting with geolocation is generally sufficient. Read the judgments:
3. ICO guidance you should know
The UK Information Commissioner explains when you can ask search providers to delete results that contain your personal data, and how complaints are handled if your request is refused. Start here:
The ICO indicates some RTBF materials are under review following the Data, Use and Access Act from 19 June 2025. Always check the current pages above for any updates before you submit.
4. Prepare a strong request
- Exact URLs: copy the full links you want delisted, one per line.
- Your name query: usually your full name as typed by a UK user.
- Identification: Google requests ID to verify you are the person affected.
- Short reasons with evidence: explain inaccuracies, outdated context, disproportionate impact, or other Article 17 grounds. Attach proof where possible, for example court orders or updates.
- If the page was changed or deleted: do not file RTBF first. Ask Google to refresh its index using the Outdated Content tool.
5. Submit your request to Google
Use the European privacy request form. These are the current entry points:
After submission you receive a confirmation and reference. Google may email you for clarification or more documents. If multiple Google products are involved, file notices for each product as instructed in the Help Centre.
6. What Google considers when deciding
- Is the information inaccurate, inadequate, irrelevant, or excessive in the context of a name search.
- Public interest, for example professional misconduct, public office or risks to consumers.
- Special category data and criminal offence data are handled with particular care.
- Whether the name query genuinely returns content about you, and whether there is up to date context that changes the balance.
See Google’s overview for the framework. For legal background on territorial scope and sensitive data handling in search, see the CJEU judgments linked above, and the European Data Protection Board’s criteria guidance:
7. If your request is about personal identifiers, consider this first
If you want to remove direct personal identifiers such as your home address or phone number, Google provides a separate route for certain personally identifiable information. Review this page if that matches your situation:
8. Outcomes, what to expect
- Delisted for your name query in the UK and EU: results will no longer appear for your name where delisting applies and for users in those locations.
- Content usually remains on the website: delisting does not delete the page. Ask the publisher for removal if appropriate.
- Partial approvals: some URLs may be delisted while others remain. You can strengthen your evidence and resubmit.
- Refusals: Google explains its decision. You can complain to the ICO, or submit a revised request with more context.
9. Step by step, my recommended flow
- List every URL and test the name query that surfaces it in the UK.
- Gather evidence, corrections, and context, for example court outcomes or updated facts.
- Decide the correct route, RTBF if content is still live and harmful in name searches, Outdated Content tool if the page has changed or been deleted.
- Submit via the RTBF form with a concise, factual explanation. Avoid long narratives. Attach evidence.
- Track the reference, respond promptly to follow up questions, and record decisions.
- If refused, compare Google’s reasons with the ICO delisting criteria and either escalate to the ICO or resubmit with stronger evidence.
Need professional support
I 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.
