False information about you in Google results
NetClearer prepares delisting requests for Google results that contain clearly false facts about you: a wrong conviction, an invented debt, a fake quote. Since the EU Court’s ruling of 8 December 2022, you need to give the evidence that can reasonably be asked of you, not a court decision. €29 incl. VAT per link. Google decides.
Published · Updated by Pierre Billard, founder of NetClearer
Examples we see
- A blog post says you were convicted of fraud. You never were, and you have a clean record extract.
- A forum thread claims your company went bankrupt. It is still trading, and the register proves it.
- A news aggregator mixed you up with someone who has the same name.
- A review site quotes words you never said, with your photo.
What these cases share: a statement of fact that can be checked, and a document that shows it is wrong. Opinions (“he is a bad manager”) cannot be proven false, and they are handled differently.
The 2022 ruling: evidence, not a judgment
In *TU and RE v Google* (C-460/20, 8 December 2022), two managers asked Google to delist articles they said were false. The Court of Justice held that the person asking must show that the information is manifestly inaccurate, with evidence that can reasonably be required of them. A court decision against the publisher is not needed (CURIA). If the evidence is enough, the search engine must delist.
In practice, a clear document can be enough: an official record extract, a company register entry, a court decision in another case, a letter from the real author of a quote.
How we build the request
- We list each false statement, sentence by sentence, and match it with a document that disproves it.
- You sign a mandate and send ID and the documents. We file with Google the same day you order, quoting C-460/20.
- We also ask the site to correct or delete the false statement under GDPR art. 16 and 17 (rectification and erasure). If the site is a platform such as a forum or social network, we can file a notice under the Digital Services Act.
- We follow up and tell you each answer. If Google refuses, we look at what evidence is missing.
We describe facts; we do not tell Google that the content is defamatory or illegal. That judgment belongs to courts. If you want damages or an order against the author, consult a lawyer in your country. NetClearer is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
What does not fit this route
- Opinions, criticism and satire, even unfair ones.
- Statements that are partly true, or where the evidence is your word against the author’s.
- Content about your current public role, where Google weighs the public interest more heavily.
For those cases, an old-news or objection argument may still work: see old news articles. Price: €29 incl. VAT per link. No refund once your request has been filed.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of evidence does Google accept?
Documents that a reasonable person would trust: an official extract, a register entry, a court decision, a letter from an authority, or proof that a photo or quote belongs to someone else. Your own statement alone is rarely enough. We tell you which document would carry the most weight in your case.
Do I need to sue the website first?
No. That is the main point of the C-460/20 ruling: the search engine cannot demand a court decision when your evidence shows the information is manifestly inaccurate. A court route is still open to you, with a lawyer, if you want the content deleted or damages.
The false post is on Reddit. Can you also ask Reddit?
Yes. We can report the post to Reddit under its rules and, where it fits, with a DSA notice. Reddit threads often rank well on Google in the Netherlands and Sweden, so we usually file both requests: one to Reddit and one to Google.
What if the page mixes true and false facts?
Then we target the false part. We can ask the site to correct it, and ask Google to delist the page if the false part is central to how it presents you. Partly true pages are harder; we say so before you order.
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