The phrase “right to be forgotten” gets thrown around a lot in conversations about online privacy—but what does it actually mean in the United States? Can you really ask Google or a news site to erase your name from the internet?
Let’s break it down.
Learn More: How to Remove a News Article from Google
What Is the Right to Be Forgotten?
The right to be forgotten is the idea that individuals should be able to request the removal of personal information from the internet—especially if it’s outdated, irrelevant, or damaging.
It’s most well-known in Europe, where the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) gives people the legal right to request search engines like Google to remove links to certain content that includes their name.
But in the U.S., it’s a different story.
The U.S. Does Not Have a Formal Right to Be Forgotten
There’s no federal law in the U.S. that guarantees the right to be forgotten. Free speech and press protections under the First Amendment generally take priority.
That means:
- News sites are not legally required to remove or update content
- Google is not obligated to de-index accurate public information
- Content that is true—even if it’s harmful—can legally remain online
However, that doesn’t mean you’re out of options.
Legal and Policy-Based Alternatives in the U.S.
While there’s no universal “delete my past” button, there are still ways to remove or hide content under certain circumstances:
1. Expungement and Sealed Records
If you’ve had a criminal case dismissed or expunged, you can request:
- Removal or redaction of news articles
- De-indexing from Google
- Updates from publishers to reflect the case outcome
2. Sensitive Personal Information
Google will remove certain content if it puts you at risk. This includes:
- Bank or ID numbers
- Medical records
- Explicit content posted without consent
- Doxxing or harassment
You can file a request using Google’s Legal Removal Tool.
3. Defamation and Inaccurate Content
If content is false and damaging, you may be able to:
- Request a correction or takedown from the site
- Pursue a legal claim for defamation
- Use this to support a removal request with platforms or search engines
Can You Still Ask Google to Remove Something?
Yes, but it depends on why. While Google doesn’t honour the “right to be forgotten” like it does in Europe, it does process U.S. removal requests that involve:
- Outdated content that’s no longer live
- Violations of Google’s policies (e.g., financial fraud, explicit images, harassment)
- Legal orders such as court-ordered removals or takedown notices
Use Google’s Outdated Content Tool to clean up old search results after something has been removed or changed at the source.
Reputation Management as a Practical Solution
In the absence of a legal right to be forgotten, reputation management has become the go-to strategy in the U.S.
That includes:
- Working with publishers to remove or edit harmful content
- Suppressing negative search results with SEO and positive content
- Using legal pathways only when absolutely necessary
At Reputation Flare, we help people clean up search results—even when the laws don’t offer a clear path.
Final Thoughts
The right to be forgotten doesn’t officially exist in the United States, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with old news or harmful content forever. With the right tools, strategies, and timing, you can still control what shows up when people search your name.
Need help removing damaging content or cleaning up your online reputation?
Let Reputation Flare guide you through it—no upfront cost, and only pay when we deliver results.
Get a Free Quote and take back control of your online presence today.