Delisting means asking a search engine to stop showing a certain address among the results when someone searches your name. The page does not disappear from the web: it stays on the site that hosts it and can be reached by anyone who knows the address. But for most people, what does not appear in searches simply does not exist. That is why delisting is one of the most practical tools for protecting your online reputation.
Delisting or removal: the difference
It is important not to confuse the two:
| Delisting | Removal | |
|---|---|---|
| Who you ask | The search engine | The site or publisher hosting the content |
| What happens | The result does not appear when searching your name | The page is deleted or edited |
| Effect | On a single search engine | Across the web, except for copies |
It is often worth pursuing both. But if the site is unreachable, anonymous or refuses all contact, delisting remains the main route.
Before the request: mapping
The most important work happens before you open the form. Search your name on the main search engines, in private browsing mode to avoid personalised results, and note:
- the full address of each problematic page, copied from the address bar and not from the result's title;
- the search terms under which it appears (first and last name, name with city, name with profession);
- what the page says and why you believe it should not appear.
Also take a screenshot of the results page showing the search and the position of the content. It is a simple, understandable snapshot of the starting point.
Filling in the form
The major search engines provide European users with a form dedicated to requests based on data protection law. You will usually be asked for:
- your details and the name for which you are requesting delisting, which may also be that of someone you represent;
- an identity document, to verify that you are the person concerned;
- the list of addresses, one per line;
- a justification for each address.
The justification is the heart of the request. Do not write a single generic explanation for all of them: the reviewer assesses address by address. A good justification answers three questions: who you are, what the page says and why there is no longer a public interest in finding it by searching your name.
An example: "I am a private citizen with no public role. The page reports proceedings from many years ago, which ended in a dismissal that the article does not mention. The information is therefore incomplete and misleading and is no longer relevant to the public."
When the request is stronger
Some situations offer particularly solid arguments:
- inaccurate or outdated information;
- sensitive data, such as health, sexual orientation or religious beliefs, published without justification;
- contact details such as a home address or phone number;
- content concerning minors;
- pages reporting events from long ago involving private citizens.
Conversely, the request is weaker if it concerns recent events, ongoing professional activities or conduct of public relevance.
After submitting
You will receive a confirmation with a reference number: keep it. The assessment may take from a few days to several weeks. The response may be full acceptance, partial acceptance, meaning only for some addresses, or a reasoned rejection.
If the request is granted, check after a few days by repeating the search. Bear in mind that acceptance normally applies to searches made with your name and that each search engine must be contacted separately.
If the request is rejected
Read the reason for the rejection carefully. It often indicates the factor that weighed most, for example an alleged public role. At that point you can:
- submit a new request with additional arguments and documents;
- lodge a complaint with your country's data protection authority, which in Italy is the Garante per la protezione dei dati personali;
- assess with a lawyer whether to seek protection before the courts.
A job to repeat over time
New sites may copy the same content and bring it back into the results. Repeat the search for your name at regular intervals and, if copies appear, submit them as new addresses, referring to the previous decision.
In short
- Delisting hides a result from searches on your name but does not delete the page.
- First map all the addresses, with the search terms and a screenshot of the results.
- Write a specific justification for each address, explaining why public interest has faded.
- Keep the reference number and check the outcome after acceptance.
- If rejected, you can resubmit or turn to the data protection authority.