Children Age 18 And Under Can Now Delete Their Photos From Search Engines

JAKARTA - Google has re-launched the ability to protect minors. Companies are trying to make it easier for them to remove images of themselves from search results.

"We know that children and teens have to navigate some unique challenges online, especially when their images are suddenly available on the internet," Google said.

Google says the new tool allows parents and children under the age of 18 to request that their photos be removed from its images tab or no longer appear as thumbnails in search results.

Previously, Google had offered a way for people to request the removal of personal information and photos that fit categories such as explicitly non-consensual or financial, medical, and national identity, now the company is expanding it to images of minors.

After submitting a request to remove it, the Google team will review each submission and contact if they need additional information to verify the removal requirements.

However, the company stresses this will not remove the images from the internet completely. They need to contact the website's webmaster to request that the content be removed.

The new tools come at a time when the tech giant is facing increasing scrutiny over their effects on children. The policy was originally announced in August, as part of a larger effort to protect minors across its platforms.

Other features introduced at the time included personal default settings for all videos uploaded by a teenager and a tool called Family Link, which could help parents monitor their children's accounts.

Some experts have also praised Google's latest move to give minors more control over their images. Deleting their photos is claimed to reduce cyber-bullying or prevent potentially harmful information and photos from remaining online.