How to Remove Compromising Photos Off the Internet

Frankie • February 3, 2020

No matter how careful you are with everything you post online, there may still be a chance that there's a set of incriminating photos of you lying around somewhere. Maybe it's an innocent picture that can easily be interpreted by people who do not know the context. Or perhaps someone is trying to ruin your reputation. Or maybe it was something you posted years ago, back when the internet was relatively problem-free. 

Whatever the reason, there are multiple steps you can take to scrub off whatever embarrassing photo you have from the face of the internet. In this guide, we'll take a look at each one so you can decide which route would work best for you.

File for Removal Requests

If your incriminating photo/s was posted on a social network, it's possible to have it flagged and removed, but only if you're willing to do the legwork. Different social media platforms have different rules for filing removal requests, so the steps involved may vary.

Facebook

Facebook presents six different ways to remove photos, each of which is outlined below.

  1. Go to the image, click "Options" and press "Report Photo."

  2. Send a request to info@support.facebook.com and ask for the images to be taken down.

  3. Fill out the Facebook Intellectual Property Infringement Form and make your case.

  4. Take advantage of the Help community to receive expert advice from staff and other users.

  5. Use the Facebook Terms Violation Reporting Form to file a complaint.

  6. Reach out to the person who uploaded it and ask them to delete it.

Instagram

  1. You can simply scrub the photo off your tagged feed by clicking "hide from my profile" on the options.

  2. If you don't want to associate with the photo, click on "More option" and pick "Remove me from photo."

  3. Report the image as inappropriate.

Twitter

To remove a compromising photo on Twitter, all you have to do is head over to https://support.twitter.com/forms/abusiveuser , provide more information about the problem, and hit submit.

Google

Since Google is a search engine, it doesn't have the power to delete an image. Whatever shows up on search results is owned by a different site, so it would be best to contact the webmaster directly rather than asking Google. However, there are still steps you can take to remove content.

  • If the photo is on someone else's site: If the image contains sensitive personal information and passes the criteria on Google's Removal Policies, Google can remove it from search results upon request. You only have to fill up a form and provide your contact information.

  • If the photo is on your site: You may choose to block content from your own site to show up on search results by utilising the Remove URLs tool.

Bury the Results

Now, if you've exhausted all options and still can't get the content removed, the next best thing to do would be to bury it. This involves getting better images and content rank higher than the compromising ones, so they'll be the first one people will notice when they look you up. While the pictures can still exist somewhere, the new content will help improve your reputation.

Get Expert Help

Getting images removed from the internet requires a lot of complex processes that you may not necessarily be knowledgeable in. If you’re looking for online content removal services, get in touch with us today ! We’re happy to help.

By Frankie Lee August 18, 2025
Introduction: Why Google Results Control Your Reputation When people want to learn about you or your business, they don’t ask you directly — they Google you. A single search result can mean the difference between: Winning or losing a client. Closing or missing an investment deal. Being trusted or being doubted. In today’s world, Google is your first impression. And when negative content shows up — whether it’s a bad review, a defamatory article, or an embarrassing old post — it can feel like your reputation is being hijacked. That’s why millions of people search for terms like “remove content from Google” or “delete Google results.” The problem? Google doesn’t make it easy. This guide gives you a step-by-step framework to understand your options, protect your name, and take back control. Step 1: Understand What Google Can (and Can’t) Do Before learning how to remove Google search results, it’s crucial to understand how Google works. Google doesn’t own the content: It simply indexes web pages published on other sites. Two main strategies exist: Remove at the source (delete the content where it was published). Remove from Google’s index (de-index it so it won’t show in search results). 👉 If the content is deleted at the source, Google will automatically update. But if it remains live, you’ll need to request a removal from Google (which only applies in specific cases). Step 2: Identify the Type of Negative Content Different types of harmful results require different strategies. Let’s break them down: 1. Defamation False statements that harm your personal or business reputation. Example: A blogger writes that you scammed clients without evidence. 2. Copyright Infringement Someone stole your images, text, or videos. Example: A competitor copies your website and publishes it. 3. Personal Information Exposure Doxxing, revenge porn, or exposure of addresses, phone numbers, bank accounts. Example: A forum publishes your private details. 4. Fake Reviews or Complaints Competitors or anonymous attackers leave fake reviews. Example: 1-star Google Business reviews from accounts that never used your service. 5. Negative Press or News Coverage News articles, blogs, or opinion pieces that damage your reputation. Example: An old article resurfaces about a legal dispute, even after it’s resolved. Step 3: Attempt Removal at the Source (Most Effective) The gold standard is to delete the content where it lives. How to Remove at the Source: Find contact information: Look for a “Contact Us” page. Use WHOIS lookup if the owner is private. Request removal politely: Be professional and clear. Explain why it should be removed (e.g., false, outdated, violating rights). Escalate legally if needed: Send a legal demand letter. File a DMCA takedown for copyright. Engage an attorney if it’s defamatory. 💡 Pro Tip: When content is deleted at the source, it’s the fastest and cleanest solution. Google will automatically remove it when it re-crawls the site. Step 4: File a Removal Request with Google If source removal isn’t possible, your next option is Google’s own removal tools. Google Offers Removals For: Outdated Content Tool: If the page is deleted but still shows in search. Legal Removal Requests: For defamation (in certain jurisdictions), copyright, and sensitive personal info. Revenge Porn & Explicit Imagery: Google prioritizes urgent takedowns for non-consensual media. Financial or ID Information: Bank details, ID numbers, or hacked data. 👉 Submit requests via Google’s Content Removal page . Be aware: Google will not remove content simply because it is negative. It must violate a policy or law. Step 5: Suppress Results When Removal Isn’t Possible Some content simply cannot be removed — for example, accurate news articles or protected opinions. In those cases, the strategy shifts to suppression. What Suppression Means: Suppression = pushing negative results off page one by ranking positive, optimized content above them. Suppression Tactics: SEO for owned assets: Optimize your website, blog, and social media profiles. Content creation: Publish articles, press releases, interviews, YouTube videos, podcasts. High-authority platforms: Build LinkedIn, Crunchbase, Medium, Quora, and other strong profiles. PR & media coverage: Secure features that rank in Google News and top publications. Since over 90% of users never click past page one, pushing harmful content to page two makes it practically invisible. Step 6: Ongoing Monitoring and Protection Reputation management is not a one-time fix. New threats can appear anytime. How to Stay Protected: Set Google Alerts for your name or brand. Track reviews across Google, Trustpilot, SiteJabber, etc. Use professional monitoring services to get alerts and immediate takedown action. At ContentRemoval.com, we provide continuous monitoring and monthly removal services so you’re never blindsided by sudden attacks. Step 7: When to Hire a Professional Some removals are straightforward. Others — like fighting with major news publishers, suppressing viral Reddit threads, or negotiating with review platforms — require expert intervention. Professional content removal experts can: Navigate Google’s complex policies. File successful DMCA, defamation, and privacy removals. Negotiate directly with publishers. Combine legal, SEO, and PR strategies into one solution. If your reputation, business revenue, or peace of mind is at stake, hiring a professional is the fastest, most reliable way to protect yourself. Case Studies (Proof Section) Case Study 1: Entrepreneur Attacked Online Problem: 42 defamatory blog posts damaging credibility. Solution: ContentRemoval.com secured takedowns on 31 and suppressed the rest. Result: Entrepreneur rebuilt reputation and closed $3M funding round. Case Study 2: CEO with Negative Press Problem: Old news coverage ranking on page one. Solution: 90-day SEO + PR campaign. Result: Positive stories ranked, pushing the negative to page three. Case Study 3: Company Flooded with Fake Reviews Problem: Competitor attack using fake Google reviews. Solution: Removal requests + review platform escalation. Result: 85% of fake reviews deleted, average rating restored. Conclusion: Taking Back Control Your online reputation is one of your most valuable assets. Negative Google search results don’t have to define you. Best case: Remove content at the source. Next best: File a removal request with Google. If all else fails: Suppress the results with SEO and content. 👉 The longer harmful results stay online, the more damage they cause. That’s why ContentRemoval.com exists: to help people like you remove, suppress, and protect their online reputation with proven strategies.
Reputation Management Australia
By Frankie Lee March 7, 2021
If you own a business in today's modern world, you know that it's no longer a question of whether you have an online presence or not. It's now a matter of what that online presence is. You need to know how people perceive your brand and whether that perception matches the one you want established. It's not wise to just let things fall where they may when your online reputation is involved. Businesses can't just let other people determine what their brand is, they should be the one on top of it controlling the narrative.