Google Right to Be Forgotten: Delisting in Europe

Delisting hides a page from searches for your name. It does not delete the page, and the outcome depends on what Google weighs.

By Siddharth ShankarUpdated October 11, 2026

The phrase "right to be forgotten" usually refers to a 2014 European court ruling about search engines. Today, Google offers a form for people to request that results be removed from searches on their name. Here is how that works and what to expect.

Where the right comes from

Google's help page explains that the right was first established in the European Union in May 2014. The ruling was the Google Spain case (C-131/12). The GDPR's erasure article is similar. Turkey and Serbia have their own rules, and Quebec has a related remedy. Eligibility depends on where you live and on local law, and Google tells people to check their local laws. We do not list countries here because Google does not give a precise list on that page.

What delisting does and does not do

A successful request removes a result when someone searches for your name. It does not remove the page from the internet, and the page may still appear for other searches. Google says it removes search results, not the source page. Because the source stays online, removing content at the source can be more effective, as covered in removing information from Google versus the internet.

What Google weighs

Google's page says it balances your privacy rights against the public interest in access to information. The form is for individuals, and corporations usually do not have these rights. A person can submit on behalf of someone else if legally authorized.

What to include

The form asks for:

• The URL or URLs you want removed
• How the page relates to you and why you want it removed
• The search query, typically your full name
• A contact email address
• Evidence to support your request

After approval

Google says removals take effect when its crawlers next access the page. If the page changes or moves, check whether the result returns. Our guide on why removed information can still appear in search results explains common causes.

Try the source first

Where the website owner is responsive, ask them to remove or anonymize the page. If that works, the search result will eventually disappear on its own. If the website refuses, delisting may still help. See what to do when a website won't remove your personal information.

Other Google tools

Google also has a separate tool for removing personal contact details from results, covered in Results About You. It works differently from data-protection-law requests.

A short checklist before you apply

Check four things before you fill in the form. Is the page about you personally, rather than about a company? Does the result appear when someone searches your name? Have you tried asking the website owner to remove it first? Do you have the exact URL for each page? Google says it weighs your privacy against the public interest, so a request about a page with real public value, such as a news report, may be declined. Keep your explanation specific and factual, and attach evidence where you can. A clear request is easier to assess than a long one.