Remove personal data from the internet

There are two main options. If your name appears on specific pages, you can ask each website to remove it, or use Google’s right to be forgotten form so it stops appearing in search results, even if the data remains on the original site. Google assesses each request and accepts those that meet GDPR criteria. If the process feels complicated or your request is denied, our team handles the case for you.

“Results about you” is a free Google feature that lets you ask Google to remove certain personal data from its search results: phone number, address, email and intimate content published without consent. It works for one-off cases, but it has limits: it only removes the result from Google, the data stays on the website that published it and on other search engines, it doesn’t cover every type of data and Google may reject the request. When your data is spread across several sources or the website won’t remove it, you need to request deletion at the source on a legal basis.

Erasing your digital footprint 100% isn’t possible: some information is public by legal requirement, other data was published by the users themselves on websites they no longer control, and some sites have no complaints mechanism. What you can do is shrink your footprint significantly: remove data on a legal basis, de-index whatever stays at the source and make sure it doesn’t reappear. It’s an ongoing process, not a one-time, permanent wipe.

Yes. Article 17 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) recognizes the right to erasure: anyone can ask for their personal data to be deleted when it is no longer needed for the purpose it was collected for, when it was published without consent or when processing it has no legal basis. In Spain, the national data protection law (LOPDGDD) reinforces this right. Platforms and search engines must handle these requests when the conditions are met. RepScan manages the process under these regulations, without having to go to court.

The most common cases, such as data on people search sites or directories, are resolved within 24 to 72 hours of the request. De-indexing from Google usually takes anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the volume of pending requests. When a case has to be escalated with legal arguments or the platform contests the request, the process can take longer. There is no guaranteed timeframe: it depends on the platform and how each case unfolds.

When the platform won’t cooperate or the data is on a site with no complaints channel, the most direct alternative is de-indexing: we ask Google to stop showing that result when someone searches your name. The data stays on the original website, but it is no longer visible. If de-indexing doesn’t succeed either, we keep the credit from your case so you can apply it to another service, as agreed with our team.

Official gazettes (such as Spain’s BOE and regional and provincial gazettes) publish data because the law requires it, so removal at the source is almost never possible. The usual route is the right to be forgotten: asking Google to stop showing that result once the information is no longer of public relevance. If Google refuses, you can file a complaint with the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD). Our team checks whether your case meets the requirements and handles the request with Google.

Yes, partly. You can use Google’s right to be forgotten form and the “Results about you” tool, and contact the websites showing your data directly. It’s the slowest route and the one with the fewest guarantees: each platform has its own timeframes and criteria, and it can deny your request without explanation. If your data is on multiple sources, if the platform doesn’t respond or if you’ve already tried without success, RepScan’s service handles the case on a legal basis and follows it through to resolution.

Your full name linked to private information on Google, postal address, phone number, email address, ID number and bank details, leaked personal or intimate photos, legal or medical documents accessible online, private conversations, data on people search sites and databases, information on forums and social media, and entries in official gazettes or newspaper archives when the right to be forgotten applies.

It depends on the case: the type of data, how many sources it appears on and the work involved (a standard request or legal escalation). At RepScan, we assess each situation before we start so you know the scope upfront, with no surprises.

Removing data at the source means it disappears from the website that published it. De-indexing means Google stops showing it in search results, but the data remains on the original site. When the platform won’t cooperate or has no complaints mechanism, de-indexing is the fastest alternative to stop your information from showing up when someone searches your name.

Yes. People search sites and directories gather data from public records, social networks and other sources and publish it without asking. Most have an opt-out form, but each one works differently and the process is slow. We request removal from every site where your data appears and follow up until we confirm it’s gone.

It depends on whether there’s a legal basis for the request. If the data was published without your permission, if the content is false or if it violates your honor or your image, you can request removal from the platform by invoking the rights recognized under the GDPR and Spanish law. If the platform keeps it up, you can request de-indexing from Google. Tell us about your case and we’ll tell you what your options are.

When the data is removed or the results are de-indexed from Google, we let you know. You can check by searching your name on Google or directly on the platform. If you sign up for the ongoing protection service, we regularly check that your data doesn’t reappear and alert you if we spot anything new.