Negative news can live online forever—and that’s a serious problem if it’s hurting your reputation, career, or personal life. The good news? You can remove or hide damaging articles from the internet and Google. Here’s how to do it step-by-step, plus what to do if removal isn’t possible.
Step 1: Ask the Website to Remove the Article
Your first move should always be to contact the source. If the article is deleted from the site, it will eventually disappear from Google too.
How to Do It:
- Find the right contact — Look for the journalist, editor, or webmaster. Use the site’s contact page, or tools like Hunter.io or WHOIS to track down an email.
- Write a clear, respectful request — Explain why the article should be removed. Mention inaccuracies, outdated info, or personal harm caused.
- Escalate if needed — If the reporter doesn’t respond, go up the chain to the editor-in-chief or legal team.
- Follow up — A polite reminder after a week can make all the difference.
Step 2: Use Google’s “Remove Outdated Content” Tool
If the article gets deleted or updated, you can speed up its disappearance from search results with Google’s tool.
How It Works:
- Go to Google’s Outdated Content Tool.
- Click New Request.
- Paste the article URL.
- Google will check if the content is gone or changed—and remove the search result if it qualifies.
This is great for cleaning up leftover links that still show up even after the article is removed or redacted.
Step 3: Ask for De-Indexing (If Removal Fails)
If the news site won’t delete the article, you can ask them to de-index it instead. That means it won’t appear in Google, even though it still lives on the website.
When to Ask:
- The article is outdated.
- It’s causing harm to your career, business, or reputation.
- There are privacy or safety concerns.
This option is less intrusive for the publisher and often more likely to succeed.
Step 4: Request Redaction (Anonymize Your Info)
You can also ask the publisher to redact or anonymize your personal details—like changing your name to “a local resident.”
If your name is removed, use Google’s tool to have the old result cleared out. This won’t delete the article, but it will help remove it from searches for your name.
Step 5: Strengthen Your Request with Proof
If your initial request is denied, you can try again with stronger documentation.
What Helps:
- Dismissed charges or expunged records
- Court orders for sealed cases
- Proof of personal development or community work
- Character references or therapy records
- Examples of reputational or emotional harm
These can help convince a publisher that keeping the article up does more harm than good.
Step 6: Suppress the Article in Google
If removal or de-indexing doesn’t work, suppression is your best bet.
How to Suppress:
- Publish positive content — Blogs, press releases, and interviews help push the article down in search.
- Optimize your profiles — LinkedIn, personal websites, and business listings tend to rank well.
- Hire a pro — SEO and reputation experts can create content that outranks the article over time.
This won’t delete the article—but most people won’t scroll far enough to find it.
Step 7: Legal Action (Only as a Last Resort)
You can sue for article removal, but it’s risky, expensive, and often counterproductive.
When Legal Action Might Work:
- The article is defamatory or contains false claims.
- It violates your privacy rights.
- It includes copyrighted material (e.g., your photos or work).
Legal cases can take months (or years) and often attract even more attention to the article. Use this option only if the damage is severe and all other methods fail.
Need Help? We’ve Got You
If this process sounds overwhelming—or you’ve tried and failed—our team at Reputation Flare can help. We’ve removed over 10,000 harmful news articles and offer pay-only-if-successful removal services.
Whether it’s full removal, de-indexing, or search result suppression, we know what works with which publishers—and we’ll handle the heavy lifting for you.
Quick FAQ
Can I remove a news article from Google?
Only if it’s deleted or violates Google’s policies. Otherwise, request de-indexing or suppress it with SEO.
How long does removal take?
Anywhere from a few days to several months, depending on the method.
Is there a cost?
If you hire a removal expert like us, you only pay if we succeed. No upfront fees.
Can I remove just my name from an article?
Yes—request redaction or anonymization from the publisher, then use Google’s tool to update the search results.