By Todd Flavio, Real Estate Technology Consultant

In today's digital age, personal information security is paramount, especially for professionals in the real estate industry. With the vast amount of data available online, it's crucial for real estate professionals to be aware of the tools that can help protect their personal information. One such tool that has garnered attention recently is Google's “Results about you” feature. Let's delve into how this tool can be beneficial for real estate professionals.

Google's Initiative for Personal Data Protection

In 2022, Google introduced the “Results about you” tool, a significant step towards helping individuals remove their personal information from the search engine's results. Imagine the shock of discovering your private phone number or home address displayed for the entire world to see after a simple Google search. Thankfully, with the new updates to this tool, it's now easier to monitor when your personal data appears in search results.

Previously, individuals had to manually find and report links that hosted their personal data. But now, Google allows users to set up alerts for instances when their email, home address, or phone number appear in the search results. This feature, however, is initially available only in the US and scans results in English.

How Does It Work?

Accessing the “Results about you” tool is straightforward. Users can either use their browser or the mobile app. Once logged into Google, they can navigate to the tool's webpage and provide their personal information, including their home address, phone number, and email. After confirming that the provided information is accurate, users can choose how they'd like to receive notifications – either through email or push notifications on their smartphone.

However, patience is key. The scanning process might take some time, but once completed, any discovered information will be listed in the "Results to review" section. From there, users can track the status of their removal requests.

Key Takeaways for Real Estate Professionals:

Proactive Privacy Control: Google's tool is a step in the right direction, allowing users to take proactive measures in protecting their personal information.
It's Just a Request: Remember, submitting a removal request doesn't guarantee action. Google might decide to retain the information, remove it partially, or delete it entirely.
Additional Measures: While Google can reduce the visibility of personal data, it's essential to contact the original webpage's owner or hosting service to ensure complete data removal.

For real estate professionals, maintaining a strong online presence while ensuring personal data protection can be a balancing act. Tools like “Results about you” offer a layer of protection, but it's always advisable to consider additional measures, such as paid services like DeleteMe, to further safeguard personal information.